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

Free / Included

Philo

Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels

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

Mark Van de Ven

Story Editor

Caoimhe Clancy

Second Assistant Director

Jeremy Doiron

First Assistant Director

Alice Searby

Casting

Lindsay Tapscott

Producer

Christina Piovesan

Producer

Anna Kendrick

Executive Producer

Mary Nighy

Director

Noah Segal

Producer

Sam Tipper-Hale

Executive Producer

Katie Bird Nolan

Producer

Krista Bell

Stunt Double

Nigel Turgeon-Mannion

Production Manager

Claudia Dall'Orso

Art Direction

Jennifer Morden

Production Design

Jessica Panetta

Makeup Department Head

Gareth C. Scales

Editor

Owen Pallett

Original Music Composer

Laurie May

Executive Producer

Tristan Zerafa

VFX Artist

Coral Aiken

Line Producer

Lucy Larkin

Set Decoration

Adrian Love

Executive Producer

James Lazarenko

Sound Recordist

Alanna Francis

Associate Producer

Max MacDonald

Special Effects Coordinator

Cat Montgomery

Set Dresser

Avaah Blackwell

Stunt Double

Cristina M. Mitchell

Script Supervisor

Sarah Bryans

Set Dresser

Anubha Momin

Assistant Production Coordinator

Yana Faie

Stand In

Alison Almeida

Production Coordinator

Devon Owens

Third Assistant Director

Carlos Lopez

Graphic Designer

Todd Bolton

Set Dressing Buyer

Branko Racki

Stunt Coordinator

Breanne Norris

Stand In

Alison Almeida

Assistant Production Manager

Deena Nina

Executive Producer's Assistant

Rob Shannon

Marine Coordinator

Benjamin Hargreaves

Actor's Assistant

Stephane St-Pierre

Generator Operator

Danny Patterson

Drone Operator

Pascal Bennett

Property Master

Karan Boparai

Second Assistant "A" Camera

James Arthurs

Underwater Camera

Pauline Hachey

Generator Operator

Colin Cameron

First Assistant "A" Camera

Chase McConnell

Digital Imaging Technician

Sean Steinman

Grip

Matt Aitia

Best Boy Electrician

Ryan Haas

Gaffer

Robert Perreault

Best Boy Electrician

Adrian Vieni

"B" Camera Operator

Jenna Allain

Assistant Property Master

Mike Pesut

First Assistant "B" Camera

Samantha Falco

Still Photographer

Peter Simovic

Key Grip

Ben Speir

Best Boy Grip

Rhiannon Dunets

On Set Dresser

James Minarik

Generator Operator

Joseph Redbreast

Boom Operator

Sam Ryan

Makeup Artist

Paula Nevin

Hairstylist

Jessica Panetta

Key Makeup Artist

Lucifer Barbetta

Makeup Artist

Israel Gracia

First Assistant Hairstylist

Melissa A. Smith

Additional Casting

Laura McArthur

Animal Wrangler

Meron Kebede

Truck Supervisor

Paul Naiman

Location Manager

Kassana Garraway

Assistant Costume Designer

Jasmine Merinsky

Key Hair Stylist

Celeste Morton

First Assistant Makeup Artist

Daniel Vink

Assistant Location Manager

Suzanne Heibati

Hairstylist

Scott Marleau

Location Production Assistant

Semco Salehi

Assistant Location Manager

Christopher Hedrick

Location Production Assistant

Brandon Fawkes

Location Production Assistant

Jim Fleming

Colorist

Nancy Gagliardi

Production Controller

Alan Geldart

Sound Effects Editor

Kyle Campbell

Online Editor

Aravind Sundar

Dialogue Editor

Daniel Pelc

VFX Artist

Jordan Flanagan

VFX Artist

Ryo Oami

VFX Artist

Andrew Tsoules

Thanks

Norman Yeung

Thanks

Gail George

First Assistant Accountant

Dave Mercel

Foley Recordist

Dustin Stillman

Set Medic

Aravind Sundar

ADR Editor

Matt Thibideau

Foley Artist

Nathaniel Larouche

VFX Artist

Lori Casella

Production Accountant

Ryan MacNeill

Foley Artist

James D'Arcy

Thanks

Andrew McDonough

Dailies Operator

Tess Moir

Foley Artist

Oleg Kondratenko

Conductor

Stephen Traub

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Marissa Frobes

Thanks

Paul Robert Turner

VFX Artist

Moss Barclay

Thanks

Alex Rusher

Thanks

Diana Quick

Thanks

Norah Sadava

Thanks

Victoria Novak

Legal Services

Thom Gill

Musician

Manon Palmer

Thanks

Writer

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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