Resurrection: NZIFF Review

With her cool and collected veneer, Rebecca Hall's Maggie seems to have it all under control in this thriller that becomes more unhinged as it plays out.

Beginning the film by telling her intern to kick her dropbeat boyfriend to the kerb, Maggie's world is about to fall apart. Firstly, her 18-year-old daughter Abbie is about to go to college, something which Maggie is barely managing to keep under wraps. 

Secondly, her past is about to catch up to her as Tim Roth's seemingly suave but menacing David comes into the picture. Seeing David sends Maggie into an extreme downward spiral, her world unravelling viciously around her.

To say much about Resurrection is to spoil what director Andrew Semans brings to the table in this psychologically bruising and abusive tale. It's a slow burn, with much of the time devoted to trying to understand how malignant David could be, and how justified Maggie's response is. In parts, it feels like an offbeat update of portions of Cape Fear as the two collide - but with some severe quasi-bonkers edges thrown in for good measure. Manipulation, abuse, gaslighting - it's all here for the taking.

Hall is utterly compelling throughout. From her initial extremely in control demeanour to the gradual destruction of her own self-worth, she handles the emotional scenes with veritable aplomb. One sequence where she explains why she is like she is leaves you unable to tear your eyes away from the screen as the camera holds on her.

But if Hall is impressive, Roth is equally so. With a calm collected visage and his inexorable presence, Roth exudes something that's as compelling as Hall is - they make great foils here as the face-off grows.

Do yourself a kindness, and see Resurrection.