Reading other reviews, I'd first like to note that a film having a political leaning should not be a reason for a negative review. Acting/drama itself has many political roots (think Bertolt Brecht, Shakespeare, even ancient Greek plays) and is designed to engage an audience critically. However, the messy plot is a more than valid reason for a negative review, as is the lack of decent characterisation. It is not what I expected, having been described as a horror, and as others have mentioned, 'Get Out' is a much better movie if that is what you are looking for.
Despite what some may say, I thought the acting was good, and the cinematography was also adept at depicting the American south and brutal conditions of slavery. Janelle Monáe brought her character and the horrors of the life of an enslaved individual to the screen, but I felt the script let her down and did not build the required sympathy between her and the audience.
All in all, this is worth a watch, but not a memorable or ground-breaking production.
Review of Antebellum
