Jessica Forever (2018) User Reviews

Imaginative, Original and Refreshing

[Blue-Grotto · 6/10 · 11 November 2018]

In a parallel universe of the not so distant future a lone young woman, Jessica, leads a band of male orphans rejected by the outside world for their violent tendencies. Her influence calms their will to create mayhem. Without Jessica these misfits are easy prey to the security forces who wish to eliminate them. Together they form a strike force protecting similarity situated male youth. With Jessica there is no blame, and all are free to leave. She searches for ways that the orphans can be happy again. "Bad things don't last forever," Jessica declares "we have to stop them from happening." Yet when one of the more vulnerable members of the group is killed, even Jessica struggles to contain their rage.

This original and refreshingly independent film contains attractive scenery, characters and actors, and wonderful ideas. Departed relatives reappear to talk to the living, there are night swims in the moonlight and the landscape seems to come alive to protect its residents. Given a better budget, organization and acting talent, this film could go somewhere. World premiere seen at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.

So it's beautiful, is that all that matters?

[ayoreinf · 6/10 · 31 July 2019]

Yes this is a very beautiful movie. Cinematography is superb, artistic design - first class. In fact, all the technical aspects of film making are at their peak. So What!!?? We also get here a confused Christian fable with Jessica a mysterious woman and her twelve orphans. Twelve persecuted, tormented orphans all of whom get to participate in Pieta like scenes over and over again. And that's not all we get, we get loads of pretentious mysticism the idiotic notion that one can equate death with redemption and therefore with love. In other words we get a thematic mumbo jumbo that the director and script writer confused with a story.

It's beautiful, but it's also hollow and pompous and a waste of some obvious talents that did participate in its making.

Really bad but I had a lot of fun

[jonprice-16921 · 2/10 · 25 February 2019]

There is nothing this movie did well, the synopsis lied to us completely, the characters are as interesting as chocolate raisins, the Jessica in the title has absolutely no impact in the narrative, the first 20 minutes has a plot whereas the hour after that had none, the music is horrendous, the editing is choppy and confusing... And I could go on with the negatives.

It is probably the worst made movie I have ever seen but I couldn't stop laughing at what I was watching. As a comedy I would take this over some of the tosh they put out nowadays but that is all for the wrong reasons. I had fun but I could completely understand someone coming out of this movie saying this was one of the worst they've ever seen.

An interesting premise, but falls flat

[tvdk-73830 · 1/10 · 21 October 2020]

I was excited by the 'reverse lost boys' premise of this film. Ultimately, though, the film aims high but definitely isn't able to pull it off. It is true that sometimes 'less is more', but JF provides zero reasoning for why the characters are in the situation we find them in, and no hints about WHY this should be a secret. Ultimately, a lot of posturing but very little substance.

One star for a very cute kitten.

Really bad...

[AleFHaro · 1/10 · 12 February 2020]

Don't waste your time with this movie. Dull and boring!

More than a surface story

[catebaum · 7/10 · 16 February 2020]

I'm not quite sure why everyone is marking this movie so low. It's a fascinating look at masculinity for young men growing up in a violent, shoot-em-up world that is near-reality. The scene where they dance together is full of young boy angst, bubbling under the skin. Sure, it's slow-paced and grows, but the idea that a female presence can calm their anger in a way they have never known is interesting and explored well. I'm not keen on the ending, which seems to then go against what Jessica has in mind all along, but the idea that an unsaid terrible world event lurks in their past and is never named is very clever and maybe just a little too low key for the masses to grasp, but why are there drones, why is nobody about, why are huge houses empty? This is never addressed, which is part of the unique feel to the film. More movies like this are needed. It's not just beautiful, but the fact it is is only a tribute to the filmmakers.

one of the worst of the year

[julietouna · 1/10 · 1 November 2018]

I've seen this « movie » at the TIFF. I was expecting a sci-fi movie, not this pretentious piece of nonsense. I'm going to TIFF every year since a lot of time, and my husband and I are always happy to discover indie movies, but we're still really wondering why this was selected... Bad acting, awful CGI, nonsensical storyline (spoiler alert: the movie becomes unwillingly hilarious when the new recruit of the group is killed. It's supposed to be dramatic, but... Actors recite bad written lines to say how devastated they are... We can't believe it for a second.). I guess we were not the only one to think that as half of the audience left the theater during the screening... you get the idea.

Pretentious trash

[gressman07 · 2/10 · 6 March 2021]

Don't be fooled by the cover, which boasts a more impressive color palette than this entire "movie." Beyond an interesting open, things quickly self-immolate after some drones show up.

People walk, people talk, people go to the mall, people do some drugs, people break and make some chandeliers, and a girl gets eaten out. Honestly, that is all that happens post-drones.

Take a hint from this and keep some gasoline ready for self-immolation, you'll likely be needing it if you give this a shot. At the very least, keep that 15 second FF button handy.

of course it's not hollywood

[lukasntz · 10/10 · 2 September 2021]

It's a quite surreal movie that doesn't explain itself to you, flowing along with aesthetics over story, and not really "storying" like a normal movie at all. If you're expecting a classic Hollywood-Action-Blockbuster that shows you every last detail making sure that you never need to suspend your disbelief under any circumstance, of course this is not for you. But it's imaginative and refreshing, and if you keep an open mind, you can have an interesting time with it.

powerfull

[NickyMaroon · 10/10 · 6 November 2018]

This french movie was a really good surprise for me! It's a rare & strong painting of our world and his complicated feelings. The story, the characters and the images are both unique, strong and powerfull. I've never seen this before and I won't forget it.

The kids aren't alright...

[NaDiaM48 · 10/10 · 12 November 2018]

There's no perfect movie but there are great first movies! This one is clearly one of the best first feature I've seen in the past few years. A great cast of newcomers, same for the crew, everything about this movie is young and fresh! Two adjectives that we rarely use to talk about French Cinema. Dont expect to watch a usual sci fi movie, you'll be disapointed ! The directors, with various inspirations, not just video games, find a different way to talk about violence, mental illness, compassion, love. I Highly recommend it!!

beautiful modern movie

[gallibadon_1999 · 10/10 · 6 November 2018]

I've seen this movie at Tiff and I didn't know what to expect. I was devastated by an intense flow of emotions. Modernity is here, and it's a pleasure!

Really beautiful and intimate

[nattilypigeonfowl · 10/10 · 20 June 2020]

This movie has a really sweet imagining of non-punitive justice and what it is to want to live when the world wants to kill you. It's really beautiful and fitting to watch in our current dystopia of isolation. There are no pretentious metaphors here, but do expect to go into this movie with your heart open if you want to get anything from it. It's a really touching look at intimacy, violence and building chosen family