'Wander Darkly' Review
R: Language and some sexual content/nudity
Runtime: 1 Hr and 37 Minutes
Production Companies: 51 Entertainment, ShivHans Pictures
Distributor: Lionsgate
Director: Tara Miele
Writers: Tara Miele
Cast: Sienna Miller, Diego Luna, Beth Grant, Aimee Carrero, Tory Kittles, Vanessa Bayer
Release Date: December 11, 2020
In the aftermath of a traumatic incident, Adrienne (Sienna Miller) finds herself in a disorienting state of limbo, unstuck in time and witnessing life from a distance. Forced to confront her troubled relationship with her longtime partner, Matteo (Diego Luna), and the future of their infant daughter, Adrienne must relive and renegotiate the events of the recent past — and solve the mystery of the accident. Stepping into the shadows with Matteo, Adrienne looks for clues about what went wrong between them.
Meet Adrienne and Matteo, an unmarried couple who recently became parents. Adrienne is a gallerist and Matteo is a woodworker. Unfortunately, their relationship is on its last leg. They argue constantly and accuse each other of cheating. Plus, Matteo doesn’t get along with Adrienne’s mom. On paper, it seems like their relationship is about to crash and burn. However, an act of God comes about and puts them through a devastating car accident that leaves them in critical condition. The two end up astral projecting outside of their bodies as they enter a state of purgatory. They reflect on their past, present, and try to determine their future together in their subconscious.
Tara Miele’s romantic drama Wander Darkly may bear a familiar premise, combining Eternal Sunshine with A Christmas Carol, but its poignant approach makes this purgatory relationship odyssey worth watching. It’s like a spiritual couple’s therapy session. The film is bolstered by Miele’s direction as she executes the premise in an effective manner, for she portrays this spiritual ride in a dreamlike manner that makes you feel like you’re in the passenger seat for their journey. Most of the framed shots are in an angled position with few subjects in the background, aside from Matteo and Adrienne, so the majority of the rollercoaster ride is solely about them having to rely on each other.
The film deconstructs the bits and pieces of their romantic history through each other’s individual, fragmented memories. As one partner is unable to completely recall the signature events of their history together, the other corrects them and the scenario either pauses or plays itself out again. Wander Darkly stays committed to its own enticing rules of purgatory — the couple can control time so they’re able to bicker without limit and nobody outside of them can react to their spats.
Sienna Miller and Diego Luna are absolutely outstanding. You buy into their respective roles as a couple stuck somewhere between life and death. They share a solid dynamic, whether they’re arguing or rekindling their flame. The narrative is mostly centered on Adrienne’s perspective, so Miller really carries the heft of the film and she does an amazing job. Diego Luna channels all the charm in the world and puts it all into Matteo. When Adrienne’s emotions are heightened, he has to be the one to comfort her and it gets to an area that is emotionally riveting.
While the majority of the narrative is set between Adrienne and Matteo in purgatory, there are several moments set in the future that are rather confusing. They’re supposed to play on Adrienne’s fear of the future her daughter might face, but for the fragmented mind that we see, it’s too elaborate for its own good and it comes across as confusing. Even the dialogue is over-the-top with sentimentality. Heck, a lot of the dialogue is either melodramatic or so distinctly elaborate that it throws you off.
Also… the ending. I, um… The third act involves a crazy plot twist and I wasn’t necessarily fond of how it landed. It’s a fucked up gut-punch to your feels. It’s such an insane jaw-dropper that, despite the effective finale, it leaves a sour aftertaste.
