The Perfection (2018)

The Perfection (2018)

 

5/10

 

Starring

Allison Williams

Logan Browning

Steven Weber

 

Directed by Richard Shepard

 

The Perfection is a psychological horror-thriller that some might view as a form of movie art, especially with its ending—an amputee performance featuring the amputee. Personally, I didn’t see it that way. I couldn’t appreciate it as art and felt that the entire series of events leading to the finale was a little over the top. That said, I do appreciate how the movie gets straight into the heart of the matter from the start and keeps that focus until the end.

As far as surprises go, the movie definitely shocked me with its unexpected twists, particularly when the two female leads ran off together and the consequences of the drugs began to unfold. The story begins with a woman named Charlotte (Allison Williams) contacting a couple to let them know she’s ready to return to work. Charlotte is a cellist and was once the star pupil of Anton and Paloma, a couple who run a prestigious music school. Charlotte had to leave the school to care for her ill mother, but after her mother’s death, she returns, only to find she’s been replaced by a new star pupil named Lizzy.

At this point, the movie seems to hint at where it’s going—you start to anticipate jealousy coming into play. This impression is reinforced when the film shifts to show certain events from Charlotte’s perspective, revealing her apparent plot to ruin Lizzy and ensure she can never perform again.

Charlotte’s unstable mental state isn’t hidden, as flashbacks reveal something deeply troubling in her past. Then, the plot takes a sharp 180-degree turn, shifting our understanding of who Charlotte is and the reasons behind her actions. While this twist is interesting, it’s also where I feel the movie goes a bit too far. Even though Charlotte justifies her actions, they feel excessive.

The darker side of Anton and Paloma’s music school—what lies beneath the surface—wasn’t much of a surprise. From the moment they appear on screen, the movie gives off that unsettling vibe, so the eventual revelation didn’t catch me off guard.

The ending, however, is something that might appeal to those who enjoy abstract or artistic interpretations, but I found it frustrating and pointless. In my mind, I could imagine worse outcomes that might have had a stronger impact.

In any case, The Perfection is available on Netflix for anyone who finds such films intriguing. My advice is to read the synopsis beforehand but avoid diving into the full plot—it’s best to experience the twists for yourself.