by Josh Sewell
Although I would’ve loved to see this happen under better circumstances, the global pandemic has resulted in a steady stream of quality films hitting VOD services. You no longer have to trek to a theater to watch compelling, artistic fare – instead, you can do it from the comfort of your own living room. You can even pause when you need a bathroom break or want to make a quick run to the fridge.
The latest example is the wonderfully strange and interesting Shirley, which hits screens on Friday. Based on Susan Scarf Merrell’s novel, the film tells a fictional story about very real horror writer Shirley Jackson (Elisabeth Moss) and her volatile marriage to college professor Stanley Hyman (Michael Stuhlbarg). That tension escalates even further with the arrival of Rose and Fred (Odessa Young and Logan Lerman), a newly married couple who stays in their home for a few months.
As Fred helps Hyman teach his courses and becomes obsessed with the academic world, Rose spends her time with Jackson, breaking through her tough exterior over time. Or so she thinks. As she helps take care of the cooking and cleaning so Jackson can work on her new novel, what she believes is a welcome bond with a new friend might be something more sinister.
If you’re a fan of the cast or the source material, it’s probably safe to say that Shirley is exactly what you’re imagining a movie starring Elisabeth Moss as Shirley Jackson and Michael Stuhlbarg as her adulterous, deadbeat professor husband would be like. Their wicked marriage is both repellant and oddly charming, so watching them emotionally manipulate and psychologically abuse a naïve young couple for their own entertainment is a car crash you can’t look away from. It’s basically a version of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? that’s even more steeped in horror.
The film isn’t for everyone – it’s a textbook example of an acquired taste – but the level of craft on display is dizzying to behold. Josephine Decker’s direction further illuminates the dialogue in Sarah Gubbins’ fantastic screenplay, while Sue Chan’s production design and Sturla Brandth Grøvlen’s cinematography are outstanding. Not to mention Tamar-kali’s eerie, affecting score, which adds even more depth and emotional resonance to the story.
The cast is also phenomenal. Between her work here and February’s The Invisible Man, Moss is having an incredible year. Plus, Stuhlbarg and Young match her intensity at every step. The only actor who feels a little left out is Lerman, although that’s admittedly due to some plot elements that come into play later in the story.
Shirley is a weird experience, but it’s so creepy and atmospheric that it’s worth a watch. Plus, as a nerdy English teacher myself, I must admit I got really excited when all the metaphors clicked into place and highlighted the film’s main theme.
Shirley is rated R for sexual content, nudity, language and brief disturbing images. Available on Hulu, as well as VOD services.
Grade: B+
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| Courtesy of NEON |
The latest example is the wonderfully strange and interesting Shirley, which hits screens on Friday. Based on Susan Scarf Merrell’s novel, the film tells a fictional story about very real horror writer Shirley Jackson (Elisabeth Moss) and her volatile marriage to college professor Stanley Hyman (Michael Stuhlbarg). That tension escalates even further with the arrival of Rose and Fred (Odessa Young and Logan Lerman), a newly married couple who stays in their home for a few months.
As Fred helps Hyman teach his courses and becomes obsessed with the academic world, Rose spends her time with Jackson, breaking through her tough exterior over time. Or so she thinks. As she helps take care of the cooking and cleaning so Jackson can work on her new novel, what she believes is a welcome bond with a new friend might be something more sinister.
If you’re a fan of the cast or the source material, it’s probably safe to say that Shirley is exactly what you’re imagining a movie starring Elisabeth Moss as Shirley Jackson and Michael Stuhlbarg as her adulterous, deadbeat professor husband would be like. Their wicked marriage is both repellant and oddly charming, so watching them emotionally manipulate and psychologically abuse a naïve young couple for their own entertainment is a car crash you can’t look away from. It’s basically a version of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? that’s even more steeped in horror.
The film isn’t for everyone – it’s a textbook example of an acquired taste – but the level of craft on display is dizzying to behold. Josephine Decker’s direction further illuminates the dialogue in Sarah Gubbins’ fantastic screenplay, while Sue Chan’s production design and Sturla Brandth Grøvlen’s cinematography are outstanding. Not to mention Tamar-kali’s eerie, affecting score, which adds even more depth and emotional resonance to the story.
The cast is also phenomenal. Between her work here and February’s The Invisible Man, Moss is having an incredible year. Plus, Stuhlbarg and Young match her intensity at every step. The only actor who feels a little left out is Lerman, although that’s admittedly due to some plot elements that come into play later in the story.
Shirley is a weird experience, but it’s so creepy and atmospheric that it’s worth a watch. Plus, as a nerdy English teacher myself, I must admit I got really excited when all the metaphors clicked into place and highlighted the film’s main theme.
Shirley is rated R for sexual content, nudity, language and brief disturbing images. Available on Hulu, as well as VOD services.
Grade: B+
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