'Affection' Review
- John Odette
- 60 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Release Date: 05/08/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Horror. SciFi.
MPAA: Rated R.
Distributor: Brainstorm Media.
The Verdict: A Mistake
What do you do when you know something is wrong, yet you cannot prove it? When you know to question your reality because you feel that something is off, but you cannot put your finger on it? And the only people you see tell you you’re wrong and that it’s all in your head? From this, you can only rationalize your own insanity.
In today's popular lexicon, the term for this phenomenon is gaslighting. This toxic and destructive behavior makes someone question their own intuition and instinct, and is the main arm of attack against Ellie (Jessica Rothe) as she inexplicably wakes up in a house she does not know, with people calling themselves her husband and daughter, respectively, that she has never seen before.
The set-up for Affection is intriguing at first, only to spiral into a meandering mess that is more confusing than cathartic. Ellie wakes from a disastrous dream to find that her “husband,” Bruce (Joseph Cross), and her daughter, Alice (Julianna Layne), are not the family she remembers. She recalls a different husband, a different child (a son), and a different life entirely.
Writer/director BT Meza takes a stab at telling a story that feels like a mystery, dressed in sci-fi and horror trimmings. But after about 30 minutes, the magic wears off. What starts out as a thriller becomes less cat-and-mouse as the flash-in-the-pan light starts to dim.
The cast is minimal, with Rothe and Cross both displaying earnest frustration. Rothe, a veteran in the horror community, is given a lot to do, particularly when her body seizures and shambles as her mind slowly processes her mental programming. I would say that bit is a spoiler; however, the movie tips its hand quite early with Bruce’s motivation.
There are some gnarly effects, especially a laboratory set piece that may put off some viewers. By the time we see this design, we understand why it’s there. Given the small cast and few locations, BT Meza does a solid job of making us feel insulated and afraid alongside Ellie as she embarks on a quest for tribulation and discovery. Meza also produces some interesting, captivating shots that capitalize on the secluded settings.
The issue I had with Affection was that its messaging didn't leave much of a trace. The theme of this film is understandable and, for many viewers, quite relatable. Abuse from anyone, emotional and physical, should not be tolerated. There is an empowerment arc that works mostly because of Rothe’s performance, but the film does not want you to figure it out for yourself.
The takeaway from Affection is to follow your nose to the truth, and that no one is coming to save you. Meza and crew hammer this point home so bluntly that the film lacks the space to become more interesting. For a 90-minute film, Affection crawls, squandering the many opportunities to sidestep its messaging and deliver solid scares and thrills. The premise was there, but too many misfires stop this film from hitting the mark.
