[Be sure to also watch our chat with ‘Resurrection’ director-writer Andrew Semans right HERE.]
Resurrection is a psychological thriller from director Andrew Semans. It deals with dark themes, including the impact of resurfacing trauma, as a woman is haunted by a presence from her past.
Margaret (Rebecca Hall) is strong, confident and successful in her career. She juggles her responsibilities as single parent to her daughter Abbie (Grace Kaufman), has a demanding job in medicine, and enjoys a commitment-free relationship with her colleague Peter (Michael Esper). She’s fit and healthy and in control, living life completely on her own terms.
While at a work conference, Margaret spots a man from her past in the audience, causing her to flee in terror, breaking down in tears once she arrives home. As the week goes on she spots the man, David (Tim Roth), more and more frequently, but always in public places and never approaching her directly.
David’s satellite presence begins to have a detrimental effect on Margaret’s life. As it transpires, they were previously in a relationship in which David was both physically and psychologically abusive. In the hope she will be rid of him, Margaret meets with David and agrees to a strange request he makes of her.
But once David establishes himself in Margaret’s life again, his influence quickly begins to take hold. As they fall back into old patterns, against her own better judgement, Margaret struggles to maintain her meticulously calibrated control over her life, her career and her sanity.
Resurrection is held together by an astounding performance from Rebecca Hall. If awards season accolades mean anything to you, then rest assured Hall should win all of them, as she commands your attention every second she’s on screen. We witness events wreak havoc on Margaret’s physical and mental wellbeing, and Hall takes us on a harrowing journey from calm capability to the brink of complete despair.
Tim Roth is also excellent as David. His menace blossoming from a place of plausible deniability, hiding behind technicalities to deny any wrongdoing. David’s jovial demeanour masks a controlling and devious cruelty. He knows precisely which buttons to push and his gaslighting knows no bounds – even trying to convince Margaret he is someone else when she first confronts him.
David orbits Margaret’s life like Max Cady in Cape Fear, terrorising at distance and stoking the fires of apprehension. Margaret has to contend with ineffectual cops, the trauma of encountering a life she had long left behind, and her own unwarranted, yet still visceral self-loathing.
Soon enough, Resurrection takes us in some very dark directions, becoming slightly more obtuse but no less impactful. With Rebecca Hall’s terrific performance at its heart, Resurrection is an unsettling and unpredictable horror thriller and a highlight of 2022 so far.
‘Resurrection’ will be available to own or rent on all major digital platforms from November 30th.
