Going into this movie I expected something conventional. Nothing in the description or the opening scene made it seem like it wouldn't be conventional. But after a very short time, it becomes clear this is a weird movie going out of its way to be dense and unclear, in a good way, playing up heavily the classic "is it something paranormal or is it mental illness?" trope, while also not making it clear who is the one suffering from this.
Lucas, the main character, is kind of an obnoxious, grating type of person who is constantly picking passive-aggressive fights with his wife Violet, who very clearly needs some special help or gentler handling, of which Lucas is absolutely not fit to provide. As such, this woman who is clearly constantly on edge and suppressing it with a cheery housewife facade, ends up having constant violent breakdowns in which she self-harms and Lucas seems incapable of not being the trigger in these instances.
But that doesn't end up being the real main focus of the film, as instead Lucas seems to be the one dealing with something unknown and mysterious, with Violet seeking out answers in the form of some barely coherent religiosity that isn't specific or concise enough to actually be religious.
The movie treads carefully along with regards to this conflict, and is almost fun as a result, especially when it comes to the suspicious interactions with Violet's parents and Lucas's psychologist.
But at the end, after having gone so delicately along the path of "is it real or is it imaginary?" and made it a point to not clearly explain anything, they spring some completely incoherent twist that gets thrown in our faces abruptly and which does not make any sense at all within the confines of the movie alone. As in, the ending only makes sense if you apply a certain religious belief to the film. If you were not a religious person or otherwise knowledgeable about certain religions, it would make absolutely no sense.
Lucas, the main character, is kind of an obnoxious, grating type of person who is constantly picking passive-aggressive fights with his wife Violet, who very clearly needs some special help or gentler handling, of which Lucas is absolutely not fit to provide. As such, this woman who is clearly constantly on edge and suppressing it with a cheery housewife facade, ends up having constant violent breakdowns in which she self-harms and Lucas seems incapable of not being the trigger in these instances.
But that doesn't end up being the real main focus of the film, as instead Lucas seems to be the one dealing with something unknown and mysterious, with Violet seeking out answers in the form of some barely coherent religiosity that isn't specific or concise enough to actually be religious.
The movie treads carefully along with regards to this conflict, and is almost fun as a result, especially when it comes to the suspicious interactions with Violet's parents and Lucas's psychologist.
But at the end, after having gone so delicately along the path of "is it real or is it imaginary?" and made it a point to not clearly explain anything, they spring some completely incoherent twist that gets thrown in our faces abruptly and which does not make any sense at all within the confines of the movie alone. As in, the ending only makes sense if you apply a certain religious belief to the film. If you were not a religious person or otherwise knowledgeable about certain religions, it would make absolutely no sense.