Movie Review: Resurrection (2022) | HNN
SYNOPSIS:
RESURRECTION which had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2022. Margaret (Rebecca Hall) leads a successful and orderly life, perfectly balancing the demands of her busy career and single parenting of her fiercely independent daughter Abbie. Everything is under control. But the careful balance is upended when an unwelcome shadow from her past, David (Tim Roth) returns, bringing with him the horrors of Margaret’s past. Battling her growing fears, Margaret must confront the monster she has eluded for two decades, who has come to finish their unfinished business. RESURRECTION will be released by IFC Films in theaters and on-demand on August 5th. SHUDDER will be the exclusive streaming home in November 2022.
REVIEW:
Resurrection was directed and written by Andrew Semans. It stars Rebecca Hall, Tim Roth, Grace Kaufman, Michael Esper, Angela Wong Carbone, Josh Drennen, Rosemary Howard, Jaime Zevallos, Owen Johnson and Winsome Brown.
Resurrection opens with a glimpse into the life of Rebecca Hall’s (The Town, The Prestige) character Margaret. She works a stressful job, she’s organized, sleeps with a married colleague, and she gets plenty of exercise. Abbie (Grace Kaufman) is her daughter.
So far Resurrection is interesting. There is a tense feeling about the film. It is clear that Margaret is bothered by David portrayed by Tim Roth. Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth are incredible actors. They bring this sense of vulnerability, instability and strength to their respectable characters. Rebecca’s portrayal of Margaret as a mother is genuinely concerned and she plays a mother who clearly had something serious and tragic happen to her. She protects Abbie.
Stress, PTSD, anxiety and fear can be terrible for some people. As humans, we can go into fight or flight. We can survive, we find ways to do it. Apparently David did something terrible to Margaret, unless he’s some kind of fabrication or a challenging stress-induced problem because Abbie is leaving soon.
We meet David a little more. The way the world is right now, this film takes on subjects that are terrible. In a world where women are expected to grow up, get a job, get married, have babies and that’s it. We don’t often get breaks in life. Some people don’t ask for help, they go through life and just go about everything as if it’s just okay.
Resurrection is one of those movies that makes you question life. It makes you look at society even more than we already see the dark side of humanity. Margaret begins to investigate David in her own way. The diner scene may or may not have been a slight homage to Pulp Fiction?! Margaret’s conversation with Gwyn (Angela Wong Carbone) is fascinating. Margaret tries to be subtle but ends up sharing something with Gwyn.
The music, the cinematography, the acting, the shots, the clean, tidy and beautifully gloomy building that Margaret and Abbie live in. This would be a film I imagine Alfred Hitchcock would show or be interested in seeing. Margaret gets to talk to the police, but it seems like the police in movies treat women like they’re crazy and irrational.
Maybe something terrible has happened to you in life, you may have gone to the police or friends… or even family for help? The condescending, “Did he show up? Was he violent? Did he hurt you?” Of course, men deal with that too. Margaret’s loss is beyond terrible. It is something that is unfathomable, it is unforgivable.
Abbie is worried about her mother. Margaret has taken on a new life, a stalking role, she doesn’t want to be a victim, she doesn’t want to be someone who just allows something else to happen to her. Never let anyone hurt you.
Resurrection delivers suspense, emotion and in-depth story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. SHUDDER does not disappoint. Peter (Michael Esper) tries to check in on Margaret, but Margaret isn’t into emotions. Margaret doesn’t sleep or eat, she’s on this mission to get David out of her life.
Resurrection is a good movie; I recommend watching this movie.