Serene Scene

I really wanted to like this. Enjoyed the mind-bendy concept. Looked forward to seeing where they were going to take it, and was fully ready to give it grace for tackling a novel mind-bendy concept. I have to say, it was well acted, and the concept took some provocative turns. Where it utterly failed for me - there were no likable characters. None. And there were few-if-any heart warming moments. It was a two hour pain-fest, watching the whole cast suffer from their own inability to live with any authentic power, passion or heart. As a result, if you are an empathetic person, this movie is a 2 hour slow burn in uncomfortable, awkward and deep emotional pain, without any relief or resolution. If you don’t feel other people’s suffering like it’s your own, there are some worthy mind-bendy moments this movie explores well. For me, however, the small gems were overshadowed by the droning pain of a cast of relentlessly repelling characters. I rarely write negative reviews. I adore Nic Cage. I love new explorations of consciousness. I don’t mind spending money on a film (good or bad) that pushes the boundaries of the way we think. But the characters in this movie, and therefore the stories, were so depressing, I’m genuinely sorry I watched it.