Sasha Chang

Promising Start, Terrible Finish Smh. This film had potential but turned out absolutely awful. The two main characters are unlikable, and the story teases complexity it never delivers. The ending? One of the worst I've seen. Here’s my breakdown, starting with the pros (for fairness): Pros: 1. Beautiful cinematography 2. Great sound design 3. Solid casting 4. Interesting premise Cons: 1. Gary’s character – Awkward philosophy/ psychology professor turned fake hitman, Gary starts intriguing but becomes utterly unlikeable. His transition into this “cooler” alter ego (Ron) for shallow reasons—getting the girl—feels poorly written. His inexplicably perfect performance as a hitman screams wasted potential. If he were secretly a real killer, it would’ve been more compelling. Instead, his motivations boil down to insecurity and desperation. 2. Madison’s character – Sexy, sexy, sexy. Did I mention sexy? That’s her entire personality. Oh, and she’s a murderer. Madison looks suspicious the whole time, but shockingly, she’s not scheming; she’s just poorly written. Her lack of depth is baffling—she exists only to be hot and murder people. If she were manipulating Gary, the story would’ve had more intrigue. Instead, she’s a caricature with no real backstory, and her instant willingness to leave her abusive husband just because Ron--a stranger--encouraged her to, or kill without remorse (twice) makes no sense. 3. Their relationship – Gary’s obsession with Madison makes him look dumb and desperate. He ignores obvious red flags (like her fixation on murder) and becomes an accomplice—and then a killer—for her. Their dynamic lacks logic or emotional resonance. The happy-ever-after ending, where they marry and have kids, feels laughably unearned, considering all the murders and zero accountability. 4. The ending – It’s atrocious. Both characters get away with murder, literally. No consequences, no justice, just a flash-forward to their perfect life together. It’s lazy writing that undermines any moral tension the story could’ve had. I could say more but I'll leave it at that. Overall, this film squanders its potential with terrible writing, shallow characters, confusing acting, and an ending that left me incredulous. I’m baffled by its good reviews but comforted by the many bad ones. Smh.

Basically it’s a mystery of whodunnit and the journey to the end will keep you on the edge of your seat. It expertly explores class, the justice system and human psychology. Though parts of it drag in order to reveal necessary story elements, you can never truly predict what comes next. It’s chilling, incredibly self-aware and hauntingly heartwarming but only through tragedy :( An actually diverse and beautiful cast puts on an amazing performance that takes you out of your living room and into their lives without being too self pitying or overly self-indulgent. I’d recommend it to folks who like drama and crime shows, but I couldn’t watch it again any time soon. My mind needs a sunny vacation from all that darkness smh