Sundance 2021: Superior
sundance 2021Even with the modern rise of stylised psychological thrillers, Erin Vassilopoulos's feature directorial debut Superior stands tall as an effective and well-crafted addition to the genre. Streaming as part of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, Superior captures the reunion of identical twins Marian (Alessandra Mesa) and Vivian (Anamari Mesa) who push each other's outlooks on life and offer each other an escape from their own issues. Switching positions, Vivian can escape the home and constantly needing to hold things together for her husband by working Marian's part-time job while Marian can take a break from life and stay at home. Things seem to be going smoothly for the pair until ghosts of Marian's life begin to haunt the pair, putting both women at risk.
What immediately stands out within Superior is the aesthetic choices that the film makes. Superior is a film that builds itself on a backbone of its 80s identity in numerous ways. From the hint of grain on the screen to the incredible crafted production design and cinematography that feels specifically created but not ever distracting, Superior always has a certain level of filmmaking presence that gives it a distinct edge but never enough to take the audience out of the film's world or story. Instead, it is this presence that goes a long way in building the edge that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. By presenting a world just slightly off from reality, Superior creates a sense of uncanny right out of the gate that plays wonderfully, keeping the audience on edge wondering what is about to go wrong.
The horrors of Superior are far from the traditional threats one would expect from psychological thrillers. Whilst there is a tangible enemy that slowly gets revealed over the course of the film building to an intense conclusion for the feature, the larger enemy throughout the film is much more universal. Both Marian and Vivian are plagued not with evil spirits trying to kill them but rather with the simple mediocrity of life itself. Both women are stuck in social limbo trying to find their own place in the world and happiness. Where one has accepted the path laid out in front of her by society – marrying a good husband and beginning to think about starting a family – one has rejected the idea entirely and has lived her life on her own terms battling it out as an artist. Neither however have found a proper path to bring them fulfillment, and their increasing ages isn't making the process any more fun or easy.
Though some might feel disappointed by the major threat of the film when it comes to the Superior’s fulfillment as a psychological thriller, it is hard to imagine that this outlook on life won't hit many on a deeper level. Especially in the time of quarantine where it seems only natural for one to end up reflecting on their place in the world, the film's highlighted existential dread speaks authentically and is sure to leave an impact on those who can vibe with its style. Superior might not be for everyone, with its more intense aesthetic and quieter voice when it comes to purpose and emotions, but for some, this is going to speak like cinematic poetry. The visual design is enchanting and sucks the audience deeper and deeper into a pit of dread and melancholy that allows for a unique conversation between art and viewer making the film an easy recommendation.
