LOOK AWAY / CERT: TBC / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: ASSAF BERNSTEIN / STARRING: INDIA EISLEY, JASON ISAACS, MIRA SORVINO / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
After a young girl is picked on and alienated at school, she turns to the one person she can trust: herself.
Look Away is a psychological thriller that holds a strong and interesting concept but fails to capitalise on its ambitious intentions. India Eisley (Underworld: Awakening) stars as Maria, a troubled girl who feels completely alone in the world after she is not only pushed aside and ridiculed by her peers at school but also at home especially by her father, Dan (Isaacs), who fails to understand why she cannot be normal like everyone else. When Maria reaches breaking point she begins to be approached by Airam, a version of herself who resides in the mirror and offers to make all of her pain disappear if she swaps places with her.
We’re treated to a strong opening for the film, which is equally heartbreaking and somewhat relatable. Once the questionable killing and shocking for the sake of being shocking begins, this is where the film loses all steam.
Up until this point, there were plenty of interesting ways the character progression could have played out but instead writer/director Assaf Bernstein opted for the easy way out. A lot of the dialogue felt clunky and lazy and was only passable due to Eisley’s terrific and career-defining performance as both Maria and Airam. Her ability to capture Maria’s pure innocence and Airam’s sadistic nature was truly captivating and was the only factor that will keep the audience engaged.
One of the most questionable decisions came in the final act where Eisley is constantly forced for her character to be either partially or completely nude, which has no direct impact on the story for the most part and feels contrived and, at times, uncomfortable.
With a powerful premise and introduction to an interesting character whose troubles could have been explored or developed in a creepy and creative way, Look Away unfortunately turns into a generic and bland thriller that is only kept afloat by a multi layered performance by it leading lady.
