Director: Lawrence Michael Levine
Writer: Lawrence Michael Levine
Stars: Aubrey Plaza, Sarah Gadon, Christopher Abbott
Synopsis: A filmmaker at a creative impasse seeks solace from her tumultuous past at a rural retreat, only to find that the woods summon her inner demons in intense and surprising ways.
It’s difficult to narrow down the genre of this film. Is it a thriller? kind of. Is it a suspenseful drama? Almost. I have seen plenty of obscure films in my life but nothing as deranged as Black Bear. There are two parts to this tale. The first half of the film is amazing. I was invested in the plot and the characters.
The second half not so much. This film felt like a repeat of A24’s Waves. The first half is so strong and then it takes a nosedive at the halfway point. At times I felt like I was watching two different films that had no connection at all.
Aubrey Plaza’s performance was noteworthy along with the rest of the cast. The score felt like a character of its own with its diverse tracks that flowed well together. I wish this film had more to say. But unfortunately, it doesn’t. I’m not sure who the audience is for. The first half of this movie is a powerful one at that but I quickly lost interest as the film progressed.
My Score:
Check out our podcast ‘Film Optix‘ on podcast platforms around the world and give us a follow on Instagram @filmoptix & Twitter @filmoptix. Follow Christian @musiccitynerd & Devin @_Devdogg_ on twitter. Make sure to check out the rest of the Drive-In Network Podcasts as well. Subscribe to our podcast & leave a 5 star rating and review on apple podcast. I will see you all in the next one!
The Music City Drive-In 
Leave a Reply