Swallow (2019)
R language, some sexuality and disturbing behavior | 1h 34min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
Synopsis: On the surface, Hunter (Haley Bennett) appears to have it all. A newly pregnant housewife, she seems content to spend her time tending to an immaculate home and doting on her Ken-doll husband, Richie (Austin Stowell). However, as the pressure to meet her controlling in-laws and husband’s rigid expectations mounts, cracks begin to appear in her carefully created facade. Hunter develops a dangerous habit, and a dark secret from her past seeps out in the form of a disorder called pica – a condition that has her compulsively swallowing inedible, and oftentimes life-threatening, objects. A provocative and squirm-inducing psychological thriller, SWALLOW follows one woman’s unraveling as she struggles to reclaim independence in the face of an oppressive system by whatever means possible.
Review: The new drama SWALLOW doesn’t swallow enough. But when it sticks to its title it will certainly have you holding your breath and squirming in your seat. I was so fascinated by the premise of the film and the expectation of what it could do that once it got to the meat of the story I was sadly disappointed. A fact that is honestly unfair to the writers since they penned a solid script just not the one I wanted.
Hunter is an exceptional character on paper and actress Haley Bennett fleshes her out brilliantly. She is timeless in her shy, offbeat and seemingly naive existence. When she does speak it is soft and non confrontational. She is doting to her loving – though domineering – husband and his brute of a family. You like her immediately and empathize with all she is facing. But to be honest we sadistically just want to watch her swallow stuff. That is what got us here in the first place.
There is a fair amount of that in the beginning but it is just a catalyst to study the whys. Why is she doing it? What trauma from her past has driven her to this place? The film becomes more a drama about mental health than a skin crawling horror film about a June Cleaver styled young woman who likes to swallow unthinkable objects. Boo.
If not for the performance of Bennett I would have checked out long before the credits rolled. But she truly is remarkable to watch in this. The hair and makeup department did wonders in molding this beautiful yet mousey young woman more befitting a long ago era. In fact this film could easily have taken place in the 50s and 60s with only a few minor prop adjustments. I am a fan of mid century and this had that feel in many areas.
The ending though. Ugh. The last part of this film seems totally unattached from the first two-thirds. The meaning is clear and concise but doesn’t fit the rest of the narrative at all. I feel like the writers and/or director had no idea what they wanted to happen so they just came up with an easy out. It totally takes away from what this film had been doing. If it was all intentional then that is worse. If you sold us one thing just to give us another is nether fair nor clever.
SWALLOW is hard to, well, swallow. It had several moments that nailed the point of view. It had an incredible lead actress. It could have been a film that we talked about and referenced all year. 2020’s Midsommar or Raw. Instead it will be something that people watch and walk away from feeling cheated.
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