Synopsis:
Amnesiac tells the story of a man who wakes up in bed suffering from memory loss after being in an accident. He begins to suspect that his wife may not be his real wife and that a web of lies and deceit deepen inside the house where he soon finds himself prisoner.
The character played by Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns) is a woman of no name, one of very little back story and is seemingly an archetypal Stepford Wife – beautiful, immaculately dressed, articulate and devoted to her family. However, she is deeply dangerous and Bosworth portrays this menacing nature beautifully. In fact, to watch a character remain sadistically calm and still find the time to wear her Sunday best to conduct her dirty work makes a refreshing change. This is because it can become mentally confusing and it completely goes against the grain of our stereotypical crazed killers.
The multi-faced talent that is Wes Bentley (American Horror Story/The Hunger Games) is the ‘man’ confused. I remained confused and frustrated by his characters’ actions or non-actions but because of his weakened state, his vulnerability is inevitable. Besides, this only added to the enjoyment of the film.
Amnesiac was written with very few characters and I think that it was a good call to do this. If there was an overloaded cast it would have detracted from the central theme of the film. Moreover, they all come with their own importance and purpose for each one is pivotal to the story line.
Amnesiac is a film that requests your complete and undivided attention. It is one whereby you have to sit and watch intently because that is what the film demands. In saying that, I did not want to up and leave. I wanted to stay because I was totally captivated by the story and the style of the film. Some horror fans will probably refer to it as a slow burner because it is not an all out blood bath, but it comes with an intensity that resonates throughout the entire 90 minutes. I am also making an educated guess that the words “It’s just like Misery” will be said by many people. However, let those words dissipate because the premise of Amnesiac is nothing like Misery. Michael Polish has directed a slick, stylish and totally engaging film.
Words by Amanda Hunt @man_ders11
