SIGNIFICANT OTHER
US, 2022, 84 minutes, Colour.
Maika Monroe, Jake Lacey, Matthew Yang King, Dana Green.
Directed by Dan Berk, Robert Olsen.
This is a brief film with science-fiction background and some horror moments. It is a small film, short running time, limited cast. However, it has some beautiful forest and ocean scenery.
Maika Monroe and Jake Lacey portray a young couple, Ruth and Harry, with a love for nature, she, however, with some anxiety problems, he with enthusiasm. They go for a backpacking trek into the forest, with his proposal and her having a panic attack, loving him but not wanting the commitment of marriage.
But, quickly at the opening of the film the audience has seen something flashing across the sky, something from outer space, something alien? There are further suggestions throughout the action, suspicions, a dead reindeer, mauled, some erratic behaviour, and the discovery of a cave with a mysterious blue sticky substance.
About halfway through, the film changes, a new proposal of marriage, then a sudden attack and death.
What follows is pursuit through the forest, an alien having taken over Harry, Ruth fleeing in fear, an encounter with a couple also backpacking and camping, some horror confrontations, Harry and his weird possession, Ruth and her trying to survive.
And, an ending with more flashing across the sky and more alien invasions.
- Small film, romance, forestry, science fiction, horror?
- The forest locations, beauty, atmosphere? Musical score?
- Ruth and Harry and their relationship, six years, committed to each other, the books and nature, Harry and his enthusiasm, his trekking, the walk in the forest, Ruth hesitant? Camping, his cooking, her putting up the tent? His taking her to the sea, his proposal, her reaction, panic attack, explanations about love, but not commitment in marriage? The effect on Harry, coping?
- Ruth, her walks, finding the dead deer, the cave, the blue substance?
- The transition, the new proposal, Ruth accepting, then kicking Harry, over the cliff, his death?
- Ruth, panic, through the forest, the couple, their help, Harry arriving again, the taken over personality, his being a scout for the aliens and reporting to them, the interchanges with Ruth, her alter ego? The death of the couple?
- The horror touches, Harry and his personality, the alien, the weapon in the hands, deaths?
- The confrontation between the other Ruth and the other Harry? The alien Harry and his having the kinder aspects of the real Harry? Death?
- Ruth, her escape?
- The finale, the alien craft in the sky?
