Greta: DVD Review

A sophisticated, edge-of-your-seat psychological-thriller that puts character over cliché and makes the reminisce of a time when Hollywood made quality, adult thrillers

Chloë Grace Moretz and Isabela Huppert in 'Greta' (CREDIT: Focus Features)

 by Jack Linsdell

Greta is another fine example of the sublime year 2019 is turning out to be for the smaller-budget, non-tentpole movies that general audiences are skipping to get double viewings of The Lion King or Hobbs & Shaw, but those like myself who do venture down are richly rewarded. Released earlier this year in April, I did catch a screening of it at the time, but due to being on leave, I wasn't able to publish a review. But, now, with it's release on DVD, Blu-ray and other such formats on the 26th August, I'm publishing it and letting you know you should 100% buy it. 

A nail-biting, suburban psychological-thriller, Greta keeps you guessing, stuck to the edge of your seat as the movie gets more confined in it's location until (slight spoiler!?) it ends in a single box. We follow Frances McCullen (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young waitress working in New York City and living with her roomate/friend Erica Penn (Maika Monroe) in a flat close-by. All is fine and peaceful (although she has a strained relationship with workalholic father, Chris), until she finds a "lost" bag on the subway train. Finding a 'return to' address, Frances delivers the bag to it's owner, Greta (Isabela Huppert), despite heeding warnings from Erica. The two form an attachment, and an unlikely (but much needed for both) friendship forms. However, when Greta's behaviour turns from friendly to obsessive, to aggressive, Frances tries to run and hide, but she cannot escape Greta, who ends up keeping her very close by (no spoilers). 

It's a taught, tense and incredibally entertaining script courtesy of Ray Wright (the original writer) and director Neil Jordan (who did some character rewrites of Greta mainly), who take a very original premise/hook of "what if someone deliberately left bags around the city to gain/capture new friends" and deliver something that feels very unique. The story is relatively simple, which for recent thrillers (The Equalizer 2, The Negotiator and Sicario 2 come to mind) seems to be a fantastic new narrative style coming back to the genre, so Greta relies on a few excellent, suprising twists and superbly sketched and performed leading characters to provide us the entertainment, with a bit of gore and tension thrown in for good measure. The story becomes a parable for broken promises and wanting to keep something/somone that's slowly moving away from you, which I think most can relate too. But, it also touches on deeper society issues like the flaws in the way the police/law deal with stalkers (not too disimilar from how Halloween was about how the governement had a terrible way to deal with mass murders/pyschiatric prisoners), and how friendship/love can soon cross a line into obsession. If you're looking for this subtext, then the movie gives it to you, however, Greta can also be watched as a pure "women trapped by another women" thriller, with plenty of tension and twists to keep you engrossed.

Talking of it's leading ladies, it's great to a see a horror-thriller that treats its two female characters as strong, independent women, not distressed damsels. And, how rare is it for a film in this genre to have an older lady as the antagonist? That's worth credit, on it's own, and adds to the whole unique feel Greta gives you. In an era when audiences only see movies that are either direct remakes/sequels or "same but presented differently" genre flicks, it's refreshing to see a movie like this that is completely unique. It puts character ahead of cliches and jump scares, and although it earns it's R-rating (15 in UK) by becoming an adult-thriller, it isn't gory in excess or unecessarily bloody, which again gives it a sense of elegance and originality. Jordan, and cinematographer Seamus McGarvey (hundreds of films including The Greatest Showman) give Greta a sense of style, elegance and darkness, as the movie looks beautiful and Jordan sets up his camera in the very best of places to restrict or advance our storytelling. As an Oscar winning screenwriter of many a horror-thriller hit, Jordan shows his capabilities as director here, especially in a series of major twist scenes just past the half-way mark. 

But, perhaps Jordan's greatest achievement is his casting of his two leading ladies. Isabela Huppert is charming, compelling, yet terrifying and sinster by being "normal". It's only at the very end of the movie that she truly plays Greta as an out-of-control, pyschotic, and that reservation is carefully judged and executed throughout the majority of the film up until that point. She's one of Europe's best actresses, France's Meyrl Streep or Judi Dench so-to-speak, and she has managed to play an antagonist that doesn't really feel villianous until the very end. Very comendable. And, of course, regular readers will know that I'm Chloë Grace Moretz's biggest fan and admirer. Yes, she's 60-70% of the reason why I went to see this one in the first place. Chloë Grace Moretz (see our study of her incredible career here), is one a select group of young actresses I call "expressionist". This elite and very underrated group are rare acting talents, in that they can express and emote so much in the tiniest of gestures, movements or tones that it's amazing to watch. Chloë delivers a consistantly sublime performance, regardless of the eventual movie's quality, time after time. Greta is no exception. She turns Frances into a "strong but vulnerable" female protagonist, which regulars will know I believe is the best and most realistic presentation of women onscreen, really capturing her trauma and confusion when trapped or followed by Greta, yet still making her loveable and very playful around Eliza and other people. Words cannot do either Greta's leading ladies justice, so go a buy the movie on DVD or other such formats and see for yourself.

Greta is available for streaming or on VOD, DVD and Bluray from the 26th August and is well worth your money. An example of the type of old school Hollywood thrillers studios no longer make and audiences no longer see (this one only made $15 million worldwide), it acts as a pure five-star movie, that successfully executes its "unique hook + stars" tagline. With a twisty, tense and compelling script, knockout performances and elegant, classy direction (not to mention that eerrie and playful score) Greta acts as top entertainment. But, for those after a little more, this one has all that below the surface. Greta's poster tagline said to passers by that "everyone needs a friend". My tagline to you is, "everyone needs to see this movie". Enjoy, folks. 

5/5 STARS