ALICE FADES AWAY Film Review — Trauma Takes No Prisoners

Posted on by Breanna Henry

Everyone is sitting at the dinner table and it is dead silent. Uncle Bishop asks Alice about what she remembers from staying at his house. She recounts pleasant things, spending summers there as a child, her uncle teaching her how to shoot at the range. But Uncle Bishop remembers something different. He recalls stumbling upon Alice sitting by the water while watching Harry, Bishop’s son, almost drown in the pond, not doing a thing about it. The mood changes, and suddenly what seemed like a nice reminiscent moment shifts into tension in the air and regret. Bishop thinks Alice will hurt the rest of the people staying on his farm. Alice pleads that she has no one left, but nevertheless, Bishop tells everyone to vote on whether or not Alice should stay at the house. Hesitatingly at first, one by one, although a bit hesitant, everyone’s hands go up, leaving an annoyed Bishop to excuse himself from the table and lock himself in his room.

Bishop isn’t the only one who sees Alice as dangerous. Don’t say that name to me. I don’t want to hear it. These are the words James, her father-in-law, says upon hearing Alice’s name; the woman he holds responsible for the death of his son, Carroll, Alice’s husband. He describes the last time he saw her; having empty eyes, missing soul. But what made her this way? We soon find out.

ALICE FADES AWAY’s Ominous Tone Increases Suspicion

Alice Fades Away is a psychological thriller following a disturbed individual’s life pattern and watching her mistakes come back for her. On the run from her abusive husband, Alice attempts to hide safely with their son, Logan. But between a son missing his father and a relentless father stopping at nothing to get him back, things get a little messy, to say the least. This mess, which is the crux of the film, leads Alice to take refuge on her uncle’s farm; a resting place for World War II survivors. The survivors in the house are left with a hard pill to swallow; to accept Alice is to accept all her baggage and harsh past. They have to decide if they’re going to protect her or think in terms of their own survival.

Alice Fades Away is suitable for most audiences; there is no profanity nor sexual scenes, so those sensitive to those images won’t have to refrain from watching. Although there is a bit of violence and gore, so children may need to stay away. If you love slow-building character-focused plots, then this will be a nice film for you to sit through. Although there is a bit of action in Alice Fades Away, it is not the main focus, so if you are an action lover, you may not get your fix with this one.

No matter what side of the genre see-saw you teeter on, this film is bound to wrack your brain. Alice Fades Away leaves us wondering what to make of Alice. Is she a sociopath? And if so, should we sympathize with her or expect more from her?

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CAST:

Ashley Shelton as Alice
William Sadler as James
Blanche Baker as Roxy
Paxton Singleton as Logan
Timothy Sekk as Holden
Jay Potter as Bishop
Emily Eckes as Dana
Tommy Beardmore
Benjamin Russell as Everett
Conor William Wright as Brian
Nick Yiakoumatos as Michael

CREATIVE TEAM:

Writer/Director: Ryan Bliss
Producer: Anthony Ambrosino
Music: Christopher French
Cinematography: David Bouley

Find out more about the film ALICE FADES AWAY on the website 

Images courtesy of 1091 Pictures

Breanna Henry

About the Author: Breanna Henry

Almost 10 years ago Breanna sat in her tiny room she shared with her younger sister in Houston, Texas writing songs, stories, and poems on the rough carpet. She mimicked songs she heard on the radio and imitated books she's read from the Scholastic Book Fair. By fifth grade, she knew creative writing would soon be her passion. Now a sophomore at Loyola University New Orleans, she has published works on her university's newspaper, literary journal, and on her own blog. When she's not writing and working towards her Mass Communication and English Writing degree, she's watching Criminal Minds re-runs, doing photoshoots with friends, and dancing wildly in her dorm room while music blasts through her speakers.

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