Alice, Darling: A Deep Dive into Emotional Abuse and Sisterhood
Alice (Anna Kendrick) finds herself trapped in a toxic relationship with Simon (Charlie Carrick), an artist who exerts constant control and suppresses her spirit. Planning a getaway to a cottage with her closest friends, Alice hesitates to reveal the truth to her boyfriend, who believes she’s away on a work trip. Soon, her friends begin to suspect that Alice is in dire need of help.
Anna Kendrick as Alice in “Alice, Darling”
Director Mary Nighy wastes no time in enveloping the audience in a sense of unease from the very beginning. While the specifics of Alice’s situation remain initially unclear, her anxious gaze and lack of relaxation during dinner with her friends speak volumes, even more than cries for help. This film, which delves into the complexities of abusive relationships, uniquely focuses on the subtle interactions between partners. Nighy portrays emotional violence through fragmented memories, trembling hands, the fear of sending the wrong text, and rehearsed lies. The camera intimately follows Alice as she repeatedly twists strands of hair around her finger – a seemingly mundane ritual that exposes her underlying fears.
A Retreat Turns into a Confrontation with Trauma
The narrative gains momentum as the friends venture out of the city. Through fleeting flashbacks, it becomes evident that Simon has stifled Alice’s individuality. She exists in a state of perpetual stress, unable to escape her boyfriend’s influence even from a distance. The setting where the friends are staying mirrors Alice’s troubled state: missing person posters plaster the local shops, hinting at a deeper unease. Alice’s thoughts drift from Simon to the missing girl, leading her to join the search party. As she wanders through the woods, stumbling upon personal belongings that likely belonged to the victim, it’s no surprise that Alice feels a profound sense of empathy. In a way, she herself is a woman who has long since fallen into an abyss, desperately needing rescue.
Anna Kendrick as Alice in “Alice, Darling”
Balancing Darkness and Light: The Power of Female Friendship
The film skillfully navigates between two distinct storylines: the grim reality of a toxic relationship and the warmth of female camaraderie. Nighy dedicates a significant portion of the runtime to exploring the dynamics between the women, allowing the focus to shift away from the central theme at times. At moments, “Alice, Darling” feels less like a story about emotional abuse and more like a testament to the power of sisterhood, capable of rescuing a victim from the web of toxicity.
A Promising Debut with a Powerful Message
“Alice, Darling” marks a strong directorial debut, serving as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of abuse and showcasing Anna Kendrick’s exceptional talent. While thrillers often feature psychopathic villains and bloodthirsty criminals, this film highlights that evil can be commonplace, gaslighting can be just as terrifying as monsters, and violence doesn’t always leave physical scars. The film’s poster and final scene are particularly telling: Alice emerges from the depths of the water, symbolically shedding everything that weighs her down and finally rediscovering herself.