The Assistant

THE ASSISTANT - VERTIGO

Kitty Green's The Assistant could not have arrived at a more integral and vital time. Flirting with and following genres of drama and thriller The Assistant is a stoic and considerably atmospheric feature with a strong lead performance from actress Julia Garner. 

The themes present in The Assistant are far greater than solely examining the film industry and abuse of Hollywood titans. Writer and director Green implements a considerable amount of depth and layers here for total engagement that Green's film, for many who work in an office space, will undoubtedly see parallels to their own vicious and often daunting misogynistic environment. 

Not only is misogyny present, but Green's film aims its sights at the abuse of unpaid internships, mental illness and emotional manipulation, to name a few. Made more potent by not showcasing any visual remnants of the antagonist in question; an attribute that adds to the tension of the feature but allows the film to not create a singular villain but instead uses abuse in general as the film’s main antagonist.

Abuse of power is present from the top down within Green's film, subtly evoking a sense of abuse of authority in small, albeit vital, sequences that are layered with nuance, but inevitably conquer both Julia Garner's Jane and the audiences alike. The nuance present on the surface is evident with Green writing said themes in a manner that are not overly obvious but still vicious. However, as with all manner of abuse, it slowly but surely grows into more substantial and colder vindictive behaviour.

The themes are heightened with a purposely flat and muted colour grade that crafts a daunting atmosphere in a claustrophobic set direction and art design from Dani Broom-Peltz and John Arnos. This specific and conscious method provokes a deep-seated mood of inescapable anxiety and terror as the story unfolds. One particularly haunting scene between Garner's Jane and Matthew McFadyen’s PR Wilcock is a key standout with tremendous thematic weight. A gradual and, at first, inviting sequence that has a glimmer of hope which slowly descends into a frightening ramification on the levels of abuse. 

 The abuse in question is superbly portrayed by Julia Garner, who puts forward a performance nothing short of outstanding as vulnerable, honest and strong-willed Jane. The actor’s emotional range is subtle yet conveyed with prominent fabulous visual cues where the actor conveys emotion through body language and the delicacy of her eyes. It is a performance that devastates in its conviction with each thunderous second of tension present and one that stirs the viewer far longer after the credits roll.

THE ASSISTANT is available on VOD streaming platforms from May 1st