Wikipedia

Resurrection (2022 film)

Resurrection is a 2022 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Andrew Semans. It stars Rebecca Hall, Grace Kaufman, Michael Esper, and Tim Roth. The plot follows Margaret (Hall) as she tries to maintain control of her life when an abusive ex-boyfriend (Roth) re-appears in her vicinity. The film was shot in Albany, NY and Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Resurrection
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndrew Semans
Written byAndrew Semans
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyWyatt Garfield
Edited byRon Dulin
Music byJim Williams
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 22, 2022 (2022-01-22) (Sundance)
  • July 29, 2022 (2022-07-29) (United States)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$161,472[1][2]

Resurrection premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2022, and was released in the United States on July 29, 2022, by IFC Films and Shudder. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who commended Hall's performance in the lead role.

Plot

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Margaret is a composed, successful businesswoman living in Albany, New York, and single mother to Abbie, who is leaving for college. She has an affair with Peter, her married co-worker. One day, Abbie finds a tooth in her wallet. Margaret misses a call from Abbie, who had a biking accident while drunk. During a work conference, Margaret notices David, a man from her past, also attending. She has a panic attack, runs home and prevents Abbie from seeing a friend.

Margaret has a nightmare about finding a baby in the oven. She becomes irritable and attempts to have sex with Peter at their workplace. She sees David again while shopping and runs off with Abbie, who became wary of her behavior. Margaret confronts David, who claims that "Ben is with me" and smiles, his mouth missing a tooth. Margaret goes to the police, but receives no help. She has new locks installed and purchases a gun.

Margaret explains her relationship with David to a disturbed coworker: she met him at the age of 18 and moved in with him after two weeks. While initially charming, David soon became abusive and controlling. He asked Margaret to give "kindnesses", which were essentially acts of self-harm or personal humiliation, in return for his love. She gave birth to a son named Benjamin, who became his target for jealousy. One day she returned home to find Ben gone but for two fingers; David claimed to have eaten him. Margaret became catatonic and David manipulated her into believing their dead son was alive inside him. She eventually fled to the United States.

Margaret asks David to leave. David continues to manipulate her and implies he is responsible for Abbie's accident. He leaves a key to his hotel room, where Margaret finds Ben's baby blanket. She wakes up the next day lactating.

Margaret learns his routine and plans to kill him at a bench near a river. Abbie and Peter ask her to seek help, but she drives both away. As she tries to kill David, he overpowers her. A delusional and exhausted Margaret hears Ben's cries from David's stomach. David chastises Margaret for trying to kill him and asks for another "kindness": she is to hold a stress position in a public park at night for hours.

The next morning, a scared Abbie runs away from Margaret. Peter, who has been watching Margaret out of worry, confesses his love to her, but she punches and threatens him. David visits Margaret at work and asks her to come to a hotel room. She writes a goodbye letter to Abbie and records a video message.

At another hotel room, David makes Margaret feel his stomach and claims that Ben is moving. Margaret attacks him with knives, ties him up to the bed and slices open his stomach, killing him. She pulls out his intestines, apparently finding a breathing fetus that she holds with care.

Abbie is seen leaving home for college. She lovingly says goodbye to Margaret, who is holding the baby. Abbie thanks her for keeping her safe as Margaret allows her to hold the baby herself. However, Margaret's smile slowly fades away before she gasps in terror.

Cast

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Production

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Andrew Semans' screenplay made the 2019 Black List of most popular unproduced scripts from up-and-coming screenwriters.[3] Producer Alex Scharfman stated "I just could not stop reading it" when he first happened upon the script.[4][5]

Principal photography took place on location in Albany, New York, in mid-2021 and later in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It was then announced Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth were attached to star in the film.[6][7]

Release

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It premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2022. IFC Films then acquired the North American theatrical and VOD distribution rights to the film, with Shudder taking the first streaming window.[8] It was given a limited theatrical release on July 29, 2022, prior to being released on video on demand on August 5, 2022.[9]

Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, 81% of 189 reviews are considered positive, with an average rating of 7/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Uneven yet steadily absorbing, Resurrection benefits greatly from Rebecca Hall's outstanding work in the leading role."[10] As per Metacritic, the film has received "generally favorable reviews", with a weighted average score of 70/100 based on 28 critics' ratings.[11]

Accolades

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The film was screened as part of the American Independents Competition of the 46th Cleveland International Film Festival,[12][13] held from March 30 to April 9, 2022.[14] It also competed for Official Fantàstic Competition's Best Feature-Length Film at the 55th Sitges Film Festival in October 2022.[15][16]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Critics' Choice Super Awards March 16, 2023 Best Actress in a Horror Movie Rebecca Hall Nominated [17][18]
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards May 21, 2023 Best Limited Release Movie Resurrection Nominated [19][20]
Best Lead Performance Rebecca Hall Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Resurrection (2022)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  2. ^ "Resurrection (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  3. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 16, 2019). "The Black List 2019 Screenplays Unveiled & Ranked: Ken Kobayashi's Frozen-Time Romance 'Move On' Tops List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Winston, Jaime (January 24, 2022). "Sundance 2022 review: 'Resurrection'". Salt Lake Magazine. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  5. ^ James, Caryn (January 22, 2022). "Rebecca Hall in 'Resurrection': Film Review - Sundance 2022". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  6. ^ Aberl, Joseph (August 17, 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Tim Roth Cast Alongside Rebecca Hall in 2019 Black List Winner 'RESURRECTION'". Murphy's Multiverse. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  7. ^ "RESURRECTION: SAG Feature (ALBANY LOCAL HIRES)". Backstage. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Lang, Brent (January 28, 2022). "Sundance: IFC Films, Shudder Buy Rebecca Hall Thriller 'Resurrection'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  9. ^ Collis, Clark (June 28, 2022). "Rebecca Hall is horrified to see a face from her past in Resurrection trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Resurrection". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 4, 2023.  
  11. ^ "Resurrection". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  12. ^ "Resurrection". Cleveland International Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "CIFF46 Announces Award Winners". Cleveland International Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  14. ^ "The 46th Cleveland International Film Festival". Playhouse Square. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "RESURRECTION". Sitges Film Festival. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "List of Winners". Sitges Film Festival. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  17. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 3rd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards". Critics Choice Association. February 22, 2023. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  18. ^ Vlessing, Etan (March 16, 2023). "'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Wins Big at 2023 Critics Choice Super Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  19. ^ Melanson, Angel (January 27, 2023). "2023 FANGORIA Chainsaw Award Nominees". Fangoria. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "FANGORIA 2023 Chainsaw Awards Winners!". FANGORIA. May 23, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
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