A terrifying psychological thriller, hailed as a 'masterpiece', is being broadcast on television this evening. Originally released in 2022, viewers have described it as 'scarier than any horror', making it ideal for late-night viewing.
Alice, Darling Airs on Film4 Tonight
The film Alice, Darling airs on Film4 tonight, following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival four years ago. Starring Anna Kendrick, the psychological thriller sees the Pitch Perfect actress portray Alice, a woman trapped in a psychologically abusive relationship with her boyfriend Simon, played by Charlie Carrick.
With guidance from her companions during a getaway, while falsely claiming she is away on business, Alice attempts to distance herself from her relationship and the codependency she shares with Simon. However, matters take a sinister twist.
Plot Synopsis
Upon discovering that Alice has not actually gone on a work trip, Simon tracks her down to the secluded lakeside retreat and arrives unannounced. His menacing, manipulative nature emerges beneath his superficially appealing exterior. The synopsis teases: 'A young woman trapped in an abusive relationship becomes the unwitting participant in an intervention staged by her two closest friends.'
The cast also includes Kaniehtiio Horn and Wunmi Mosaku as Alice's friends, Tess and Sophie.
Critical Acclaim
Alice, Darling has been hailed as 'very underrated' by fans. One viewer called it: 'Tremendously well done. It will leave you uncomfortable and vulnerable and essentially raw, but the journey, truth and confrontation is more than worth it if you can face and stare and confront the demons within us or around us all.'
Another fan described it as a 'mesmerising watch', while someone else said it was 'unquestionably poignant'. One review read: 'The tension and subtlety that Anna plays her role is a masterpiece.' Another viewer called it 'perfect', while someone else praised its 'underrated brilliance'. Yet another said it was 'hard to watch but absolutely worth it,' and another described it as 'scarier than any horror'.
Anna Kendrick's Personal Connection
Twilight actress Anna previously revealed how she related to her character in Alice, Darling after a personal experience with emotional abuse. She told People Magazine about recalling the first time she read the screenplay: 'I was coming out of a personal experience with emotional abuse and psychological abuse. I think my rep sent it to me because he knew what I'd been dealing with and sent it along because he was like, 'This sort of speaks to everything that you've been talking to me about'.'
She continued: 'I was in a situation where I loved and trusted this person more than I trusted myself. So when that person is telling you that you have a distorted sense of reality and that you are impossible and that all the stuff that you think is going on is not going on, your life gets really confusing really quickly. And I was in a situation where, at the end, I had the unique experience of finding out that everything I thought was going on was in fact going on. So I had this kind of springboard for feeling and recovery that a lot of people don't get.'
She added that the script came at 'surprising timing' but she 'wasn't in danger of re-traumatizing myself,' and felt that making the film became 'incredibly cathartic'.
Alice, Darling airs at 9pm on Film4 on Thursday, June 11.
