THE STORY – Ellie confronts a disturbing condition resetting her memory, unable to recognize her husband and daughter. Each reset disorients her, leaving haunting recollections of an unfamiliar life.
THE CAST – Jessica Rothe, Joseph Cross & Julianna Layne
THE TEAM – BT Meza (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 90 Minutes
Horror is a crowded field these days. This month alone, we already have big-budget studio fare (“Passenger”) and more humble indie darlings (“Hokum,” “Obsession,” “Backrooms”) competing for our attention. It can be hard to break through the noise, and at first glance, “Affection“ is not a film you would expect to do so. It wouldn’t even be surprising if, upon reading this review, this film was now coming across your radar for the first time. Opening to a sparse, limited release this weekend from a small distributor after a niche festival run, “Affection“ is a directorial debut without megawatt star power or a unique premise to bolster its chances ahead of the competition. However, it does have a few things on its side: handsome visuals despite a low budget, strong word of mouth from early reviews, and a buy-in from horror fans in the form of star Jessica Rothe, known for her work in the “Happy Death Day“ duology – a package just convincing enough to perk your ears and draw your eyes. Upon actually watching “Affection“ for yourself, your leap of faith will be met with pleasant surprise. Though not without its faults, writer/director BT Meza’s horror-thriller lays a solid foundation for a new voice in the genre.
Set in an isolated and otherwise idyllic farmhouse surrounded by forest, “Affection“ follows Ellie (Rothe), a woman who has supposedly endured a terrible accident that has caused her severe memory loss. She does not recognize her husband, Bruce (Joseph Cross), or her young daughter, Alice (Julianna Layne), nor does she remember any pivotal moments they’ve shared. What’s worse is that her condition frequently causes seizures; without warning, Ellie will suddenly begin to tremor, followed by violent full-body spasms and gasps so shallow you’d swear she was becoming a Clicker from “The Last of Us“ (and, no, the irony in the shared name of its protagonist is not lost on this critic). As much as you want to appreciate Meza’s setup on its own merits, any savvy modern filmgoer who even just dips their toes in the pool of horror will immediately recognize the tension of the premise, and that’s before Ellie discovers a strange creature in the forest who begins similarly convulsing. Surprise, surprise, not everything is as it seems. As much as you want to appreciate Meza’s setup on its own merits, any savvy modern filmgoer who even dips their toes in the pool of horror will immediately recognize the tension of the premise. You quickly surmise that Bruce, a seemingly sensitive husband who can’t help but love a woman who feels nothing toward him, has far darker intentions than he lets on. It doesn’t help that Cross’ performance makes it painfully obvious (non-deragatory) that this is a nice guy hiding dark secrets.
“Affection“ plays out like a baby’s first “Good For Her“ cinema, a competent but overly familiar construction of tropes that makes for a somewhat tedious first half of what should be a blissful 90-minute runtime. The film’s surprising level of production value and central trio of committed performances are enough to keep you on its hook, but you can’t help but beg for the film to simply give in to the obvious and peel back the curtain. Thankfully, Meza does inevitably get there, and this is where “Affection“ finally starts to shine through. To spoil any specific plot details would genuinely take away from what devolves into an exceptional showcase of practical effects, led by excellent makeup work by Lia Parks and creative production design and art direction by Nicholas Faiella and Kevin Cabello, respectively. If you take anything away from “Affection,“ it should be these names, the artisans who help elevate Mesa’s otherwise underdeveloped sci-fi/horror trappings into a visceral experiment in body horror, even if any Cronenbergian influences are very much in the background. Another name you should take away, if you haven’t already, is Jessica Rothe. Though not a stranger to the industry nor this genre specifically, her deeply multifaceted performance, both emotionally and physically exhaustive, is unlike anything in her career thus far and deserves recognition. If you’re looking for a new scream queen stock to invest in, Jessica Rothe is worth every penny.
Meza proves a solid visual storyteller behind the camera, both before and as the film’s true horrors unravel, but his writing leaves something to be desired. Though the film presents potentially interesting commentaries on domestic abuse, bodily autonomy, and the depths of grief, it’s all surface-level. Meza shows no interest in challenging our perceptions of the characters and their motivations, satisfied with spelling it out during the climax and simply giving in to the genre’s cheap thrills. Granted, these cheap thrills are indeed thrilling, and even an unsurprising first half doesn’t stop “Affection“ from having a few palpable moments of suspense in the second. Anyone looking for a straightforward cinematic horror experience will get it here, no questions asked. However, “Affection“ is a reminder that the films that do ask questions make a better impression. For all the excitement of Meza’s film being a bona fide indie underdog, its hollowness illustrates why some movies in the genre simply can’t compete in a crowded marketplace. Perhaps with a stronger premise and maybe a writing partner, Meza can develop his technical skill into an exciting voice that will take the lead in the race. For now, horror fans can sit back comfortably knowing they’re in for an entertaining, if ultimately disposable, time at the movies.
