I caught this movie the week it opened and am I ever glad I did. I knew nothing about it, except that Alexz Johnson was in it. That was enough to get me to the theatre, and once I was there, I discovered a really cool little movie. Its part horror, part coming of age, and I really appreciated that combination. It gave it many layers, and every scene and every line had a purpose. The story follows a teenage girl, Sophie, whose fights with her father lead to her becoming anorexic (he is a cook and when she refuses his food its like she's scored a point against him). She begins to see a supernatural being, but her friends and family think she is hallucinating. I won't say more than that, except that the story of what is really going on will keep you glued to your seat to the very end. The side-story of how her friends can't face up to her anorexia is also extremely realistic and weaves in seamlessly to enhance the main plotline. It works on all its levels because the acting is consistently excellent from the whole cast, even though most of them are not well known. The four friends are perfect. Alexz Johnson plays her best role yet as a strong, kind of mouthy woman who doesn't take crap. English actress Lauren McQueen plays Sophie without histrionics, but with a subtlety that makes you love her and believe in her. I think she is going to be a huge movie star in the near future. Sean Stevenson as her boyfriend is so sincere, he makes you truly care about his character. The chemistry between him and Sophie reminded me of Twilight (though it's not a vampire movie). Brendan Flynn as his brother Kai is an incredibly interesting actor to watch. For someone who looks the way he does, he seems so vulnerable and likeable that even when he's doing terrible things, you understand why. That's part of what I love about this movie: the characters are not cardboard cutouts. They all have a good side and a bad side, just like real people, and these four actors show us both sides to perfection.
I'll add that the movie has a beautiful look as well. The cinematography is epic with amazing scenery and interesting camera work. For a small indie movie, The Wasting overall looks and plays like a much bigger movie. And it definitely keeps you thinking for a long time after you leave the theatre.
Review of The Wasting
