Writers: Jonathan Bernstein, James Greer
Director: Steven Soderbergh
After relocating to a new city in order to escape the attentions of creepy stalker David (Leonard), Sawyer Valentini (Foy) is in the process of rebuilding her life when she begins to see David in various places again. Finding a place to get help, a counselling session there turns nightmarish as Sawyer finds herself committed to the mental institution. Worse still, it appears that David is now part of the organisation's healthcare staff. Or is he?
Previously, the title "Unsane" only reminded of the dreadful US version of Dario's Argento terrific thriller Tenebre but thankfully I have something else on which to hang my memories now other than a hacked about version of a classic giallo. Also, a fair bit has been made of the fact that Steven Soderbergh shot this movie on an iPhone but that's a rather gimmicky angle that frankly this movie doesn't need.
In actual fact the lower-fi approach works well and the tight, almost selfie-style close ups work to create an off-beam, claustrophobic atmosphere that serves the opening act well. As the plot progresses and Sawyer's psychological state shifts the filming style does become more conventional but that doesn't stop the odd interlude in which the side effects of medication blur and shake the very frame itself, adding to the disorienting feel.
That's not to say there aren't issues with Unsane. There is a point at which the whole thing seems to be three different movies fighting for space and a thoroughly intriguing first half gives way to a more conventional second where several familiar horror tropes come into play and set the stage for a climax which doesn't break any new ground, right down to the behaviour of the local law enforcement, who are - shock! - slow to catch on in order for the suspense to be cranked up.
Despite the slightly disappointing slide into predictable stalk (literally) and slash territory what makes Unsane an unexpected treat is the performance of Claire Foy. Her performance is superb and it's nigh-on impossible to take your eyes off her whenever she's on screen. Sawyer is a tough, no-nonsense woman who doesn't really care what people think of what because her focus is on surviving no matter what and Foy's work here shifts the movie up to an entirely different level.
The script is careful not to portray its central character as a victim and it's refreshing to see that at no point does our lead descend into helpless horror heroine whimpering, in fact my over-riding feeling for most of the film was that if it came down to a straight fight between Sawyer and stalker then Mr Stalker would be getting his arse kicked in the most non-negotiable way possible.
Elsewhere there's good support from Pharoah as a patient who isn't averse to a spot of wheeling and dealing on the side, Amy Irving is entertaining in a smaller role as Sawyer's mum and Joshua Leonard hits all the clammy chill buttons as the quietly unnerving David. But at the end of the day it's Foy's show and you should watch Unsane just to see how brilliant she is. Without her this would be a watchable, efficient suspense thriller. With her, it's definitely something else.
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