This movie makes some very odd choices but by far the oddest choice is the choice of the lead character and actress. It is baffling that Liana Liberato's character isn't the focal point of the movie. It is the far more interesting character with the far more interesting story and played by the far better actress.
I don't wanna be mean to Kara Hayward but she is just miscast. The way she plays her role feels so unreal. Slouching your shoulders, lowering your head and looking shy is not enough tell us your pain and fear. Doing the old cliche of just wearing thick dark glasses won't help either. Her character is flat anyway and we mostly get her misery by watching good actors interact with her like her mother played by Jordana Spiro who is exceptionally good as well as Shea Whigham even though his part is tiny and Adelaide Clemens who is also great doing so much with so little.
Long story short this movie could have been absolutely great with a focus on the right character. The first half is hard to watch and when it finally get's to Liberato's side of the story everything clicks until near the end when we get stuck with Hayward again. Missed opportunity.
I don't wanna be mean to Kara Hayward but she is just miscast. The way she plays her role feels so unreal. Slouching your shoulders, lowering your head and looking shy is not enough tell us your pain and fear. Doing the old cliche of just wearing thick dark glasses won't help either. Her character is flat anyway and we mostly get her misery by watching good actors interact with her like her mother played by Jordana Spiro who is exceptionally good as well as Shea Whigham even though his part is tiny and Adelaide Clemens who is also great doing so much with so little.
Long story short this movie could have been absolutely great with a focus on the right character. The first half is hard to watch and when it finally get's to Liberato's side of the story everything clicks until near the end when we get stuck with Hayward again. Missed opportunity.