Bloodied fingers loosely grip a slick steering wheel. The driver is focused elsewhere. We are along for the ride as we watch the car drift off into the night. The darkness and sense of uneasiness settles into our minds. An all encompassing feeling of loneliness permeates our lead Holly’s eyes and distraught demeanor throughput The Swerve. Sinister music highlights the lingering despair of Holly, the mentally distracted mother of two teenage sons and wife to an inattentive husband.
We feel placed beside Holly as she goes about her mundane days. The monotony of teaching high school, dealing with the constant bickering of her children, and a vendetta against a violent mouse, and more starts to claw at Holly’s mind. While her home life cuts at her wellbeing, external factors add to the pile on. Her sister is volatile and peppy, and beyond popular with Holly’s sons and husband. The sister’s relationship is another brick laid upon Holly’s back.
The Swerve puts us into the shoes of a deteriorating mindset
Holly is pushed to commit several acts that profoundly affect the story. They are little detours from her daily routine that push her further onto a dark path. These are the kinds of lapses in judgement many of us know similarly reverb throughout our personalities, undermining our sense of well being. It’s all put on full display. We anxiously watch Holly’s downward spiral.
In this reviewer’s opinion, Holly is played brilliantly by Azura Skye. She is able to capture the nuances of a shattering life. The feelings of isolation and being forgotten permeate the film. The Swerve starts uneasy and doesn’t end until your gut is tied into a thousand knots. We feel as sick and distraught as Holly.
This film is especially a good fit for those who find the true terror films that show people living lives similar to our own. This isn’t a return soldier struggling to fit back into civilian life. This isn’t a slasher film with a cartoonish villain stalking our female lead. Instead, The Swerve offers many of us a much more satisfying experience where the greatest enemy is the everyday nag of mental un-wellness.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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Director: Dean Kapsalis
Screenplay: Dean Kapsalis
Producer: Tommy Minnix
Cinematography: Daryl Pittman
Music: Mark Korven
Cast: Azura Skye
Cast: Bryce Pinkham
Cast: Ashely Bell
Cast: Zach Rand
To watch visit Amazon and for information on the film visit Itunes
Images courtesy of Yulissa Morales (Epic Pictures)
Nominated for Picture This Post BEST OF 2020