Alice, Darling (2022)

December 30, 2022 (CA) • Thriller, Drama, Romance • 90m

Overview

Pushed to the breaking point by Simon, her psychologically abusive boyfriend, Alice becomes an unwitting participant in an intervention staged by her two closest friends while on vacation. As she rediscovers the essence of herself and gains some much-needed perspective, she slowly starts to fray the cords of codependency that bind her. However, Simon's vengeance is as inevitable as it is shattering, and once unleashed, it tests her strength, her courage, and the bonds of deep-rooted friendships.

Director

Mary Nighy

Writer

Alanna Francis

Top Billed

Anna Kendrick

Keywords

friendship psychological stress female friendship vacation psychological abuse intervention manipulative lover mental health boyfriend girlfriend relationship low self esteem woman director social issues enduring friendship perspective breaking point panic attack abusive boyfriend rediscovery codependency anxiety independent film best friends psychological manipulation mental abuse cabin at a lake loss of control friend's birthday

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Anna Kendrick

Alice

Wunmi Mosaku

Sophie

Kaniehtiio Horn

Tess

Charlie Carrick

Simon

Markjan Winnick

Marcus

Daniel Stolfi

Officer

Carolyn Fe

Customer

Gordon Harper

Fawning Sycophant

Viviana Zarrillo

Store Owner

Mairi Babb

Volunteer #1

Susan Applewhaite

Volunteer #2

Ethan Mitchell

Hot Waiter

James M. Jenkinson

Bar Patron

Lindsay Leese

Store Clerk

Toni Ellwand

Customer #2

Deborah Grover

Volunteer #3

Sara Bradeen

Volunteer #4

Farah Merani

Host

Emily Abbate

First Running Podcast (voice)

Crew

Marissa Schwartz

Costume Designer

Alice Searby

Casting

Jeremy Doiron

First Assistant Director

Caoimhe Clancy

Second Assistant Director

Mark Van de Ven

Story Editor

Lindsay Tapscott

Producer

Alanna Francis

Screenplay

Sam Tipper-Hale

Executive Producer

Christina Piovesan

Producer

Anna Kendrick

Executive Producer

Mary Nighy

Director

Katie Bird Nolan

Producer

Noah Segal

Producer

Krista Bell

Stunt Double

Jennifer Morden

Production Design

Jessica Panetta

Makeup Department Head

Nigel Turgeon-Mannion

Production Manager

Gareth C. Scales

Editor

Claudia Dall'Orso

Art Direction

Owen Pallett

Original Music Composer

James Lazarenko

Sound Recordist

Tristan Zerafa

VFX Artist

Alanna Francis

Associate Producer

Max MacDonald

Special Effects Coordinator

Laurie May

Executive Producer

Coral Aiken

Line Producer

Adrian Love

Executive Producer

Lucy Larkin

Set Decoration

Alison Almeida

Production Coordinator

Cat Montgomery

Set Dresser

Yana Faie

Stand In

Breanne Norris

Stand In

Devon Owens

Third Assistant Director

Todd Bolton

Set Dressing Buyer

Rob Shannon

Marine Coordinator

Deena Nina

Executive Producer's Assistant

Avaah Blackwell

Stunt Double

Cristina M. Mitchell

Script Supervisor

Alison Almeida

Assistant Production Manager

Anubha Momin

Assistant Production Coordinator

Sarah Bryans

Set Dresser

Branko Racki

Stunt Coordinator

Rhiannon Dunets

On Set Dresser

Peter Simovic

Key Grip

Colin Cameron

First Assistant "A" Camera

Ryan Haas

Gaffer

Adrian Vieni

"B" Camera Operator

Benjamin Hargreaves

Actor's Assistant

Carlos Lopez

Graphic Designer

Mike Pesut

First Assistant "B" Camera

Ben Speir

Best Boy Grip

James Arthurs

Underwater Camera

Stephane St-Pierre

Generator Operator

Pascal Bennett

Property Master

Jenna Allain

Assistant Property Master

Pauline Hachey

Generator Operator

Danny Patterson

Drone Operator

Karan Boparai

Second Assistant "A" Camera

Robert Perreault

Best Boy Electrician

Chase McConnell

Digital Imaging Technician

Matt Aitia

Best Boy Electrician

Samantha Falco

Still Photographer

James Minarik

Generator Operator

Sean Steinman

Grip

Scott Marleau

Location Production Assistant

Paul Naiman

Location Manager

Daniel Vink

Assistant Location Manager

Celeste Morton

First Assistant Makeup Artist

Christopher Hedrick

Location Production Assistant

Suzanne Heibati

Hairstylist

Brandon Fawkes

Location Production Assistant

Sam Ryan

Makeup Artist

Paula Nevin

Hairstylist

Joseph Redbreast

Boom Operator

Melissa A. Smith

Additional Casting

Meron Kebede

Truck Supervisor

Jessica Panetta

Key Makeup Artist

Lucifer Barbetta

Makeup Artist

Israel Gracia

First Assistant Hairstylist

Semco Salehi

Assistant Location Manager

Laura McArthur

Animal Wrangler

Kassana Garraway

Assistant Costume Designer

Jasmine Merinsky

Key Hair Stylist

Nancy Gagliardi

Production Controller

Alan Geldart

Sound Effects Editor

Kyle Campbell

Online Editor

Jordan Flanagan

VFX Artist

Aravind Sundar

ADR Editor

Nathaniel Larouche

VFX Artist

Dave Mercel

Foley Recordist

Stephen Traub

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Kaya Pino

Music Supervisor

Jim Fleming

Colorist

Tess Moir

Foley Artist

Diana Quick

Thanks

Ryan MacKinnon

Head Driver

Andrew McDonough

Dailies Operator

Ryan Birnberg

Sound Effects Editor

Shaun Gratto

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Steven Davies

VFX Artist

Autumn de Wilde

Thanks

Aravind Sundar

Dialogue Editor

Esra Palancioglu

VFX Artist

Steve Boisvert

Thanks

Suzanne Court

Thanks

Paul Robert Turner

VFX Artist

Alex Rusher

Thanks

Lori Casella

Production Accountant

Victoria Novak

Legal Services

Thom Gill

Musician

James D'Arcy

Thanks

Andrea Harkin

Thanks

Stephen Woolley

Thanks

Deniz Palancioglu

VFX Artist

Dustin Stillman

Set Medic

Matt Thibideau

Foley Artist

Norah Sadava

Thanks

Jason Gill

Head Driver

Oleg Kondratenko

Conductor

Jo Wallett

Thanks

Moss Barclay

Thanks

Donnie Blaze

Catering

Larissa Giroux

Thanks

Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly

Thanks

Gail George

First Assistant Accountant

Ryan MacNeill

Foley Artist

Ryo Oami

VFX Artist

Gerardine O'Flynn

Thanks

Daniel Pelc

VFX Artist

François Dumoulin

Thanks

Michael Heimler

Thanks

Manon Palmer

Thanks

Andrew Tsoules

Thanks

Norman Yeung

Thanks

Marissa Frobes

Thanks

Mick Sullivan

Thanks

John Covent

Driver

Rob Westhafer

Driver

Max Gilmore

Driver

Max MacDonald

Visual Effects Coordinator

Stephen Fromstein

Transportation Coordinator

Tammy Zaleskis

Driver

Mike Carry

Transportation Captain

Garvin Walker

Driver

Jonathan Gordan

Driver

Mike McLaughlin

Director of Photography

David Vari

Set Dresser

Reviews

Manuel São Bento

⭐ 7/10

January 20, 2023

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/alice-darling-review

"Alice, Darling brilliantly tackles the sensitive topic of abusive relationships. Alanna Francis' script stands out with a profound, respectful look into an emotionally disturbed Anna Kendrick - career-best performance - but also into the genuine best of female friendship.

A non-exploitative look into how psychological violence can be as traumatic as an… read the rest.

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

⭐ 4/10

April 23, 2023

**By: Louisa Moore / www.ScreenZealots.com**

_This film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival_

Having experienced a close friend stuck in an emotionally abusive relationship,” Alice, Darling” really hit home. It’s a story (by screenwriter Alanna Francis) that captures the realism of what it’s like as an observer, and what I can only imagine it feels like to be the person suffering in silence. This isn’t a movie that is pleasant to watch, but that’s not why it falters. The themes are absolutely important, but director Mary Nighy chooses a path that feels like an Afterschool Special with its overt messaging. This is what ultimately hurts the film.

Alice (Anna Kendrick) has found her dream man in Simon (Charlie Carrick). He’s handsome, successful, charming, and seems like a good boyfriend. When she agrees to reconnect with her two best friends Sophie (Wunmi Mosaku) and Tess (Kaniehtiio Horn) at a getaway to a quiet lake cottage, they begin to sense something isn’t right. The man is always checking up on her, texting all the time, and making their friend anxious and distant. After Alice spills that she had to lie to Simon and tell him that she’s on a business trip instead of a mini vacation, Tess and Sophie pry deeper. The truth comes to light as they learn that their best friend is trapped in an emotionally and psychologically abusive partnership.

Intimate stories like this expose important issues that are overwhelmingly specific to women. Too many of us know friends or family members who have been through a similar situation, and it speaks volumes that a good number of viewers will relate to this film on a more personal level. It’s easy to judge when it’s not happening to you, and the film is a wake-up call not only for those experiencing abuse to reach out, but for those around them to be alert and learn to spot the red flags that are so easy to miss.

When Nighy chooses to focus on the female friendships and characters, the film is at its best. Kendrick, Mosaku, and Horn have a natural rapport, which makes their performances feel real. Kendrick is especially heartbreaking, and her turn as an anxiety-ridden woman who feels trapped shows an impressive dramatic range. The actors do their best with this story of friendship and abuse, but the material makes for a tough transition from page to screen.

The film’s sluggish pacing is unnecessary, as are the half a dozen scenes of Alice pulling out her own hair. One, maybe two, would suffice and make the point, but Nighy keeps going. There’s also a distasteful subplot about a missing girl who is presumed to be dead. This story line serves as a heavy-handed metaphor that’s tacky and obnoxious, suggesting that is Alice doesn’t leave Simon, she’ll end up murdered in the woods someday, too. I found this component of the story to be so thoroughly off-putting that it overshadowed the rest of the film. The ending is borderline corny camp, too.

“Alice, Darling” tells an important story about how self doubt can be detrimental to finding the courage to stand up, let go, and move on. Too bad it isn’t more subtle (or effective) in its messaging.

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