ANNIVERSARY

Anniversary is a chilling family drama that weaponizes political views and sees how the effect of differing views can unravel a group of loved ones, that thanks to a talented cast led by the always terrific Diane Lane, delivers a gripping and utterly horrifying thriller that feels all too real in today’s world.

Polish director Jan Komasa has been making films and television series for years, making a name for himself with critically acclaimed projects like Corpus Christi and The Hater, but Anniversary marks his first Hollywood project to date. Not only does Komasa assemble a stellar ensemble cast featuring Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler, Phoebe Dynevor, Dylan O’Brien, Zoey Deutch, Mckenna Grace, Daryl McCormack and Madeline Brewer, but along with his co-writer Lori Rosene-Gambino, they tackle American politics head on and hold nothing back. Showing the catastrophic effect of political divide on the film’s central family as democracy is overtaken by a totalitarian political movement, and brought to life by excellent performances, Anniversary is a shocking and timely film that is certain to start conversation among and divide viewers.

What allows Anniversary to be so effective is how the film approaches its political ideas. Yes, the story revolves around differing political views as Josh’s new girlfriend Liz possesses radical political views that Josh’s mother Ellen adamantly disagrees with, and how these differing views sparks a division within their family. The individual views are never actually spoken, never divulging how each character reacts to specific talking points, such as gender, health care and taxation, preventing a too hyper focused conversation to occur. There is enough for the audience to derive for themselves where each character stands politically, whether they are liberal or conservative, but this is not what Komasa and Rosene-Gambino are concerned with saying, as it is too simple for the thematic discussion they are exploring. Instead, Liz’s ideas for how the government should be run, state control and a single party system are the driving force of the screenplay, forcing the conversation to focus on government structuring and political oppression.

By focusing on the debate of democracy versus a totalitarian government, Komasa and Rosene-Gambino deliver a chilling commentary about the current political state of the world, and how dangerously close we are to this future. Orwellian, unnerving and cautionary, the future for America that is teased in this film with watchlists, censorship and individuals fleeing the country for asylum is a warning to society of the importance of maintaining faith in democracy and not being persuaded by convincing speeches or ideas that sound empowering, but are actually deafening of democracy and strip individuals of their freedoms and autonomy. Much like Alex Garland’s Civil War which teased a destructive civil war in America, Anniversary shows the destructive powers of political ideas on individual relationships and family, a far more devastating loss for humanity that should urge viewers to re-examine the path that our society is on and to re-evaluate the political decisions they are making as individuals. Because what is being explored in this film is not a far-fetched possibility or academic experiment, but a very possible and disturbing future that could happen in the next couple of years if we are not careful.

With this specific approach to the politics at the heart of the screenplay, Komasa and Rosene-Gambino are able to focus on the destruction of the family and the character relationships. Using the political discussions the story is having, the clashing of beliefs of Ellen and Liz tear the family apart after the initial family pleasantries are exchanged in the story’s first segment. Jumping ahead in time between each family gathering for each new segment in the story, as the country’s democracy begins to crumble, parents and children are turned against each other, siblings find themselves at ends, and even lovers find an insurmountable distance between them because of Liz and her politics. Explored during explosive conversations that are emotionally devastating to watch as you watch individuals who at the beginning of this story unconditionally loved each other, unleash their inner wickedness on each other, there is no shortage of shocking betrayals to have viewers on the edge of their seats. And under the direction of Komasa, who is never not in full control, he carefully guides the performances and story’s development to ensure that what starts off as an at times humorous family get together going slightly sideways becomes a gut wrenching and devastating horror story. But the question posed as the family unravels, is who is truly the monster of this scenario: the outsider who brings these political ideas that radicalize a nation, or those who follow it blindly and will turn against their own kin without a second thought?

Telling such an important and divisive story, having the right cast in place to become these characters is critical to the film’s success. But, not only has Komasa assembled an all star cast, it is a terrific one where not a single member of it is miscast. Lane leads the film as the family’s matriarch Ellen, that when armed with Ellen’s unwavering love for her children and sharp intellect, creates a formidable lead character that audiences immediately love, despite her flaws. Dynevor quietly brings an undermining destructive nature to Liz, developing a chilling nature to her character’s arc over the course of the film as she becomes the face of the new political movement within America. O’Brien continues his year of great performances as Josh, creating a monstrous human being that is repulsive and terrifying, showcasing his great range as an actor. Chandler is dependable as ever as Ellen’s husband Paul, trying to be the bearer of peace within the family despite the political divide driving them all apart, bringing an immense kindness and compassion that becomes greatly tests; and both Deutch and Grace are brilliant as two of Ellen and Paul’s daughters, Cynthia and Birdie respectively. There is not a single weak performance from any member of the cast, ensuring that Anniversary has one of the best ensemble casts of the year.

There is nothing like family to hold loved ones together, but when properly influenced, there is nothing like family to tear each other apart. That is the terrifying truth that Jan Komasa and Lori Rosene-Gambino explore in Anniversary, delivering a thrilling and horrifying look at political ideologies and their ability to not only radicalize a country and demolish democracy as we know it, but also to break the strongest bonds amongst as people and destroy families. With Diane Lane leading a terrific ensemble cast with an excellent performance, Jan Komasa not only perfectly captures the harrowing political story he sets out to tell in Anniversary, but he delivers an unforgettable and cautionary tale that viewers won’t soon forget given the political state of our world today.