With the camera on a Caribbean Island a female narration sets forth a legend of the island with a backdrop of two women in a life and death struggle in the water. The island legend is of a fisherman is on his boat with his beautiful pregnant wife and encounters a storm which tosses his wife overboard never to be seen again. He spends the rest of his life on the sea searching for his wife while her spirit looks to return to a life she has lost. Each of them is looking for a past that has vanished.
Eve (Amanda Crew) is temporarily on the island with her husband Peter (Tom Felton) who is in partnership with Sal (Rick Fox) developing and selling property on the island. Eve is looking for a less exotic locale to raise her family which despite trying she is yet to have as she has difficulty in conceiving and loses her baby yet again. This is very upsetting to her and she sinks into severe anxiety apparently not correctly remembering some important facts in her life such as telling Peter they were engaged on the island which makes an increasingly concerned Peter even more frightened about Eve losing her mind as Peter retorts we were engaged in Amsterdam. She visits a physician for an examination and is prescribed some sedatives and her sanity further crumbles to the point that a mysterious woman Renata (Ashley Green Khoury) begins to take her identity and life. Then Eve’s story repeats itself with Renata. Renata thinks this other woman Eve is trying to assume her identity A Groundhog Day of loss of the mind. What is the common thread dear viewer……Peter! Think closely about this. I have told you that the women in the film may not be the problem here.
The film slowly converts from a thriller to a terrifying glimpse of what it could be like losing one’s mind. Not being taken seriously, derided, mocked and a terrible fear of loss of your identity! A terrible tale about two women losing their mind in an identical fashion. Wait! Tear yourself away from the women and focus for a moment. How odd both Renata and Eve have the same downward spiral? Things are not making sense.
Pay attention to that rather pained look you will see in Peter’s eyes? Take a wild leap of interpretation for a late film moment where you are compelled to make some conclusion of what is occurring. That personal challenge thrust you way by your own mind is perhaps the best part of this film shot on the Caymans.
Opens in Canadian cinemas on 12January2024. Opened in U.S. cinemas on 5January2024.
RKS 2024 Film Rating: 87/100.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 