Grey (Lauren Beatty) is a singer/songwriter who brings her girlfriend Charlie (Kathering King So) along with her as she goes to stay with a record producer, Vaughn (Greg Bryk), who is to help her with her second album. Things are tense as Grey suffers from disturbing nightmares and Vaughn has become a recluse following a murder trial in which he was accused of murdering his wife. He’s such a big name in the industry, however, it didn’t affect his status. As the recording sessions progress, Vaughn attempts to bring different elements out of Grey’s personality and get inside her psyche.
As we see in Grey’s nightmares, she imagines herself as a vicious wolf, so it’s no spoiler to reveal that side of the story. As she becomes more enveloped in the world of the Svengali-esque Vaughn, she abandons aspects of her life that are important to her. Not least, her partner and her veganism (a scene in which Vaughn tempts her into eating steak is particularly memorable). Director Amelia Moses (whose Bleed With Me has a vampire focus) manages to do a lot with the minimal cast. The recording studio scenes seem authentic – largely, no doubt, to the co-writer being Canadian singer Lowell, who also provides the music – and Greg Bryk is enigmatically charismatic as Vaughn, making it easy to believe the spell he casts over the young singer.
The movie lives up to its title often, but there’s still a strong story and performances to keep the viewer involved throughout. As much as the main character is afraid of the situation she’s in, collaborating with a producer who may well be a murderer, she’s much more worried about her album not living up to the success of her debut. It’s no doubt how many ‘pop stars’ feel in an industry where it can often feel like you’re selling your soul, and being eaten alive by the industry.
Our only criticism is that Wendy Hill-Trout and Lowell’s script doesn’t go dark enough. What we get is fine, but it would have been on another level if pushed just a little further. Perhaps by taking away the lycanthrope aspect, something much more sinister could have been explored. That said, it’s an entertaining and gripping character piece with added claws.
Release Date: Out Now (US), TBC (UK)
