LOOK AWAY (2018)

Written & Directed By: Assaf Bernstein 
Cinematography: Pedro Luque 
Editor: Danny Rafic 


Cast: India Eisely, Jason Issacs, Mira Sorvino, Penelope Mitchell, John C. Macdonald, Harrison Gilbertson, Kristen Harris 


A lonely 18-year-old high schooler opens up to her reflection because of the lack of support she has from family and her peers. She switches place with her supportive, but evil, twin that she discovers in the mirror's reflection, but the newfound freedom unleashes suppressed feelings.

This is one of those films that you have a feeling might be trashy or bad but you watch with a sense of adventure most likely because you like the cast.

Here is a cast I usually enjoy and know they don’t usually get the best parts, scripts and roles but there is something inherently likeable about them other than their obvious talent and appeal.

This film started off seeming like more of a supernatural thriller before going off more into exploitation land as an erotic thriller with nudity and sex scenes that were unexpected.

The film stays cold and chilled like the exteriors and the characters for the most part.

This film also suffers from having a fairly recongniable former teen actress playing in a more sexualized role that shows range on her part but also feels exploitive as it seems like a film that is designed around the fact that she will be sexual and nude. So that no matter what that will be the focus or the focus will be Elusive up to these scenes. So that the story around it is less important and thrown into the background. Like those skinemax movies. Or like the film WHITE GIRL that had a story to tell once you got around All the sex and the nudity on display, but for the most part the later is what you take away.

It’s a shame as India Eisley is actually really good in this film and is really the only reason. To watch it but lien the other top billed actors. You can tell she is better than the material given but makes it work with what she is given. She is attractive though following her career she seems to be typecast in these roles that are sexualized where she is the Lolita to a degree. Her other work though at least kept her clothed maybe in shorter outfits but here the film. Goes for the show not suggest route. I wonder if these are just the best scripts that she gets offered or if she is forever typecast.

The film is actually well filmed and the story stays interesting if the filmmaker knew exactly what to do with it he sets up the mood and the action but leaves the story and film with so few places to go that it kind of shutters and stays at a stand still. Even though characters stay believable for the most part.

The film chooses to not exactly explain how certain things are happening but tries to give little suggestions for the audience to follow or make their own interpretation. By the end it leaves it more open to psychological. Usually it feels Like empty or Bad filmmaking, but with this story it makes sense. Though it does leave quite a few questions.

Like even when it came to her first act of revenge and a particular act of violence we never know the exact aftermath or consequences. I believe it might be because when she later has revenge in her friend. We know it’s coming but the film Needs the audience to be shocked at how far she takes it.

Though the film gets a little strange towards the end where it goes from Suggestion to outright questionable when it comes to a implied incest angle.

It’s intriguing to call this a kind of lifetime movie with it’s balance of melodrama but the strength of the material is better than those films and not open as much to hysterics.

I know it probably might not deserve the credit I am Giving it, but the film did stay entertaining. even when it went where One expects it to go. Though it did set a certain mood and achieved what I believe it set out to.

Grade: C-