In this immersive thriller directed by Amy Redford, a young love affair becomes a menacing game of cat and mouse. Nothing and no one are as they seem…
Pam says:
“What Comes Around,” Amy Redford’s psychological thriller, is as intriguing as it is chilling. Starring Grace Van Dien as Anna, a teen who has connected with a young man, Eric (Kyle Gallner) on-line, finds him on her doorstep on her 17th birthday. Her reaction is one of discomfort but that soon turns into kindness and compassion as she is swept off her feet by this perfect stranger. There’s so much more than meets the eye and as the details of his past are revealed, the title of the film could’t be any more apropos.
Anna is a typical teen living a typical life with her friends surrounding her amidst the aspens near the mountains. Her mom, Beth (Summer Phoenix) has raised Anna on her own and now finds herself in love and engaged to Tim (Jesse Garcia). It feels idyllic until Eric shows up at their door. He’s older and the secret he holds pushes this family into a state of chaos with unexpected twists and turns which are uncomfortable, unpredictable, and mesmerizing.
Van Dien’s performance is an authentic one as a teen who teeters between adoration for her mother and frustration as is evidenced by door slamming and eye-rolling. Never is her performance over the top, but instead, it is incredibly nuanced bringing us into her world. Anna’s reactions to various situations and learned information knocks the wind out of her, but her tenacity and resiliency allows her to bounce back. It’s where she bounces that is of consequence and surprise.
Phoenix finds just the right notes as her character’s world is rocked upon Eric’s arrival. Beth is a complicated character who allows the viewer to connect with and then experience an array of other emotions related to her. Phoenix’s understated interpretation brilliantly reflects regret and a mother’s instinctual protective nature as she fights for herself and her family in, again, very unexpected ways.
Of course, with Eric as our pivotal character who stirs the pot, Gallner must match the authenticity of both Van Dien and Phoenix and he does so seemingly effortlessly. Gallner is sweet and disarming, but we immediately understand that there is more to his character of Eric than meets the eye. Without giving anything away — this would ruin the film for you — Gallner is sheer perfection. The range and complexity of emotions required for this character is daunting, but Gallner also creates a persona with whom we find a connection or at least sympathy.
The cast of characters with a complexly intriguing story make “What Comes Around” one of the best smaller films of 2023. Redford’s deft direction creates the unnerving atmosphere necessary for this story as she allows her actors to develop characters with depth. It’s an unexpected tale that shocks you at just the right times with a poetic ending that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
4 stars
