Angel of Mine

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source: Angel of Mine

This review doesn't contain any specific spoilers, but just the mention of there being a twist in my opinion can be a spoiler. I don't really know any other way to review this film than to include spoilers. I always try to avoid that but on this occasion the twist is too important to the quality of the film not to discuss it. 'Angel of Mine' is an Australian film that caught my eye with a solid cast and an interesting sounding premise. Around two-thirds of the way through the film I was cursing my decision to watch it. I was bored, disinterested and hoping for it to hurry up and end. Then the ending came around and everything changed. Without specifically saying what happened, I'll simply say everything that had come before needed to be reconsidered (in a big way). In hindsight the film actually does a brilliant job of manipulating the audience into a certain way of thinking, without ever cheating. It is very similar to 'The Sixth Sense' in that regard. When the twist comes around I thought to myself, holy hell the implications this has could fill an entire other movie. The problem this movie is going to have is that it does such a good job of throwing people off the scent that I think a lot are going to be frustrated and bored with it before they even make it to the big reveal. That would be very disappointing. I've always said the way you end your film is the most important factor in terms of how people will judge it. 'Angel of Mine' ends on an incredibly high note and thus a lot (but certainly not all) of its flaws are forgiven.

Noomi Rapace was perfect. Several scenes with her performance were just mesmerizing. Rest of cast very good as well, but Noomi was outstanding.

Completely telegraphed "twist" featuring an illogical, unbelievable, irrational ending that will make you want to shout at the TV. Unintentionally Boring and intentionally cringingly awkward for most of the run time but well acted from the whole cast throughout.

The story exaggerates at every level yet the filmmakers expect viewers to find it believable. Was dull from the start as the film develops the character of 'Liz' (the pathologically grieving mum). However, despite the trailer, pamphlets etc revealing why she is grieving (daughter died) this already known fact is not revealed until near the end of the movie. We are expected to accept that a truly loving family can readily allow strangers, such as the disturbed 'Liz', into their lives in the finale without a legal battle. There are tense and thrilling moments but they tell the story of mental illness. Could have been so much better.

Slow moving film which almost made me give up. My greatest issue is with the credibility of the plot. There aren't any logical "bread crumbs" that lead to the twist...it is all a hunch. Unlike other thrillers where you can go back and discover clues and other nuggets that lead to a specific outcome, the entire motivation of the protagonist is based on a hunch (a hunch from someone with a lot of major emotional challenges). At the end of the day, the twist felt like a big reach to me.