There’s endless content to be mined from the story of a gaslit woman, which is one of the reasons the “is she crazy or is it really happening?” narrative thread has been pulled so many times in genre films. It’s easy to execute poorly, however, since the answer is almost always: yes, it’s really happening.
Affection, the feature film debut from writer/director BT Meza, takes a slightly different route. By centering Ellie (Jessica Rothe)’s experience as a woman who wakes up married to a man she doesn’t recognize, with a daughter she doesn’t know, in an isolated country farmhouse, the audience is immediately aligned with her confusion and terror.
Even more importantly, however, it’s pretty evident that Ellie, who actually identifies as Sarah, isn’t mistaken. There is definitely something going on, and the truth of the film (which I won’t reveal) is laid out by the end of the first act. This is wise because instead of drawing things out, Affection is afforded plenty of time to explore the implications of what is actually going on.
The truth about “husband” Bruce (Joseph Cross) and “daughter” Alice (Julianna Layne) is both simple and complicated. To be clear: the details of how the plot works are a little wonky (though not so difficult to follow that it undermines the film), but it hardly matters thanks to Rothe’s performance.
As a woman questioning her reality; who is contending with a whole separate set of memories; and who is prone to tremors and seizures, Rothe is put through the wringer in Affection. It’s a performance that is equal parts emotional and physical and Rothe negotiates every twist, every reaction, and every histrionic outburst, with ease and believability.
The talented star of the Happy Death Day films nearly runs away with the film (it’s truly her movie), but she has an assist from Cross, who does an excellent job of threading the needle between adoring husband and suspicious abuser. It’s clear that Bruce isn’t telling Ellie the whole truth, but Cross’ performance is carefully calibrated so as to inspire uncertainty about his intent more than anything.
As for Layne, she’s cute (she’s a kid in a horror film who frequently has to be scared and, in that capacity, she does what’s required of her).
The isolated farm setting – nestled against a threatening forest with a bonus corn crop to hide in during tense sequences – also works in the film’s favour. It’s a small production, with only three actors appearing on screen, and while the film doesn’t have quite enough substance to merit the runtime, Rothe’s all-in performance ensures Affection is never boring.
Bottom Line: Affection is another great showcase for Jessica Rothe’s talents. While the film feels slightly drawn out, the actress’ dedication to the role, particularly its physical demands, are impressive and merit a watch. 3.5/5
Affection is out in limited release on May 8.