Review of Z for Zachariah (2015) by Patrick P — 11 Sep 2015

Excellent acting and excellent idea. The themes of the movie warrant quite a bit of contemplation on the part of the audience, which is a lot more than can be said for most of the movies out right now. The conclusion is not satisfying at all, which is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it helps reinforce the movie's core themes and gives the audience more room for interpretation. There are several scenes which are quite gripping, and I noticed that several fellow moviegoers shed tears.

The unfortunate part of its conclusion, however, is that you are left wondering about many of the ideas and issues presented -- perhaps too much so. Almost everything remains at least partially unresolved. One feels that it was made with a sequel in mind, which is not what you want to feel at the end of a film. Further, although it is quite intellectually challenging, it ultimately fails to deliver on its initial intriguing promise. The further you delve into the film, the more it becomes about jealousy rather than purpose, pride rather than will. It essentially gets dumber.

A good effort, but the decline in the plot prevents it from being a notable experience.