Perfect? No, but it is very good. One of the best films I have seen recently, this is both surprising and shocking. The fact that this has so far scored averagely on this site at the time of writing - 53% - is also surprising and shocking. This is a well-crafted film that deserves to be watched, especially by horror fans jaded by predictability.
As soon as I saw the reports that multiple people had complained to Netflix that this film had made them physically sick due to its graphic content I knew I would be doing myself a disservice as a horror fan by not checking it out. As normal these reports seem to have been largely exaggerated, this happens all the time as a new horror film is said to have gone ‘over the line’ and disturbed audiences for the actual film to be pretty standard in its themes and content. The Perfection is destined to be seen alongside the original Saw and Hostel in that general audiences seem to have gotten the image of something truly horrific and disgusting when in reality the gore is used sparingly as a way to enhance the dark subject matter.
This film has so many twists in it that the final act feels as if you are watching a completely different movie. After a while I personally think that it bites of more than it can chew by trying to tackle a very serious subject matter despite still being a fairly goofy horror film. The first half is absolutely brilliant and I was honestly ready to call it a best of the year contender until the twists started to drag the film down a little. At first when the plot begins to unravel and things are shown to not be how they first seemed it feels fresh and interesting but after a while it gets in the way of the storytelling and I felt less and less invested in the plot despite the fact that the themes were getting darker and more serious.
Allison Williams is absolutely remarkable in this film. There is a sequence towards the middle of the film where she really gets to shine proving that between this and Get Out she has the potential to be the best thing to happen to horror since Anya Taylor-Joy. Logan Browning is also great in this movie and I hope that she is able to use this as a stepping stone to better things.
This film was clearly a big risk. The experimental presentation pays of greatly in some areas and can get in the way in others. I will always support new and interesting steps forward in the horror genre and even if I don’t think this is as good as it maybe could have been I still recommend checking it out if you are looking for a good new horror. It is absolutely not as graphic or disturbing as the internet will have you believe but it is worth watching.
There's so much wrong with this movie.. I felt so icky afterwards I wanted to take a shower and cleanse my mind with another viewing of Booksmart (2019), but it was already too late and I had to go to sleep.
A couple of thoughts:
- I actually liked the beginning, because I thought this was going to be some sort of stalker story (which it kind of is, I guess) and I wanted to figure out Charlotte's (Allison Williams) motive - jealousy seemed to be too simple.
- Lizzie (Logan Browning) basically "traded" one abuser for another? Anton (Steven Weber) gains her trust, manipulates her mind, then violates her body and calls it a gift, because that's the only way to reach "The Perfection". Charlotte gains her trust, manipulates her mind, then violates her body and calls it salvation, because that's the only way to see the truth - which we then should accept as female empowerment?
- On one hand (no pun intended, seriously) the writers and producers of this film seem to have lived in a bubble for the past couple of years when it comes to the #MeToo movement and such, because this is a rape revenge massacre at its most exploitative.
- On the other hand I wonder if they drew inspiration from some of the most prominent sexual abuse cases that have become public in recent years. The tattoo? Reminded me about this NXIVM sex-cult who branded their victims. The institutionalized sexual abuse of talented girls? Reminded me about those hundreds of female USA Gymnastics athletes, who were abused by their trusted physician. The assault was so subtle and full of plausible deniability that the victims weren't even sure whether they were actually abused. In the movie the abuse is portrayed as some sort of gross religious ritual, with the victims sitting on a stage, strapped to a chair - which we should accept has been going on under the radar for decades?
- But it has a mixed-raced lesbian couple who not only survives but is also making out and the two actresses were even part of the editing process of the sex scene (I guess to make sure it isn't too male-gazey?), so :fist: to progress, or whatever.
I honestly would have profited from some trigger warnings before watching this, so be aware of the following content: Bugs, delusional parasitosis, vomit, suicide, amputation, ableism, paedophilia, child sexual abuse, (threat of) rape and gore in general.
That was an amazing movie. Who wrote this shit? I want to look at their brain.
I hated this movie from the cliche lesbian relationship to the lame bugs to the completely uneven sound control done on the movie editing room. Normal dialog is far too quiet, then screaming is suddenly so loud you could hear it 5 blocks away. Not really "horror" it's more of a gross-out movie. Produced by the people in Hollywood who use rape to groom female actors and then pretend that all men are guilty of rape when this behavior is prevalent among Hollywood and political elitists.
Not perfection but still a strong string of gore, dark, twists, plot and cast that all did well in they roles.
Wasn't the film I thought it was going to be. Glad I didn't know too much about the plot beforehand.
I saw the first twist coming. Not, however, the second or third one.
The first 30 to 40 minutes felt a bit long, but part of that might be because the film keeps you very much in the dark about what it will eventually reveal itself to be and it definitely picks up after that. It goes a bit overboard at times, it's definitely not for the squeamish, and I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but in the end it's a well-crafted, VERY fucked up horror thriller.
Too unlikely and many tricks in the script make you lose interest in the movie
The movie was pretty confussing. In the beginning I understood everything then, I understood nothing and then I thought I understood everything but it wasn't so. xD
After all I really like the movie even if it is a little bit strange.
I took one star away because it wasn't "horror" enough. It's more like a psycho - thriller.
And the other star I took away is because I was pretty confused while watching this movie.
Not a bad movie. There are three twists in the movie. The first does not count because it is obvious. And you are already expecting the last twist because of the second one. It is okay, but nothing too good. The typical Netflix fare, if you will have it, to watch on the weekend, and you won't miss a lot even if you nod off and miss a few minutes here and there.
Loved this movie. Was a excellent surprise to see something this quality on Netflix
A both clever and shocking twist within a twist film. Gruesome tale of obsession, revenge and the capacity for evil. Keeps you guessing for the truth behind the perfection itself until the end.
This movie is quite good, I was NOT prepared from the cheesy trailer! I wish they had elevated the movie with a few editing choices (please never use the"rewind" effect, so tacky); if they had it would easily be on par with Black Swan. Still, it stands on its own as a unique and effective dark, twisty tale.
Didn't know what to expect going in, a rare horror movie that genuinely leaves you feeling uneasy. A must watch.
I thought the twists in this movie were well used (at least the first two) and it definitely wasn't what I expected going in. I thought it was going on very different tracks st different times, only to totally swerve and do something totally different. Is it a little basic in its plot? Yes, but not as much as one might think by its low rating. I would absolutely suggest this movie, if only for the journey to the incredible and kind of haunting final scene.
This was SURPRISINGLY good. Not perfect, but the unexpected twists and turns were great, not to mention the actresses had good chemistry. I enjoyed it.
i guess if i hadn't watched the trailer beforehand i'd be actually be surprised by the plot twists in the movie, either way it's a good movie.
Not bad... But something is not enought
Thought it was worth a watch because it was so stupid. Why do the hand thing when Charlotte could have just talked about the academy? And what kind of rescue from trauma or abuse is the hand act? How did she know she'd even live after? The twists seems to be the main focus of interest above any logic. if you ever find yourself in a child abuse cult it's probably best to go to the police. What's the deal with the end scene? lol This movie gets more ridiculous as it goes on. it's like adults wrote the first part and it ended up with edgy kids taking over.
I'm glad the trailer only really used key footage from the first 1/3 or so of the movie since there are some storytelling devices and plot points that could have easily been ruined in trailers. There are a couple nice turns that flip things around on you and the mood is always menacing. The only real downside is there are a couple really intense emotional leaps that are made that push whether or not you can keep suspending disbelief. It worked for me...but just barely. All in all one of the better Netflix original films I've seen in a while.
Great film! Ngl tho my biggest question after watching it is how do you keep a wig on during sex?
1 / 2 directing & technical aspect
1 / 1 story
1 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
.5 / 1 act III
1 / 1 acting
.5 / 1 writing
0 / 1 originality
0 / 1 stays with you
0 / 1 misc
6 out of 10
Fun film. It’s fast and clever and creepy. I’m glad I went into it with no ideas. Definitely worth a watch.
This is one messed up film. It takes twists and turns I can't even explain. You will have to see. It's wild with a finale 10 minutes that is bananas. Allison Williams is a breakout in this. I hope she gets bigger film because of this. But I would be happy to see her in anything after this or everything. This is one film that must be seen if you are a fan of genre, twist thrillers, horror or all three.
I need more people to know that this movie was "inspired by" The Handmaiden (2016), a far superior film in every way imaginable.
That said, I had a blast watching this mess. I gotta know the choices that were made to justify the awful and pointless wig reveal!!!
The first act was pretty messed up and the rest of the movie never lived up to it. It took some turns I didn't see coming. Allison Williams is great.
Interesting and fresh, compared to 'Captain Marvel'.
This movie is so hectic.
The ending is pretty cheesy and they didn't explicitly need to say they were raped. I mean it shows the dude walking in naked. Obviously he abused them. lots of twists. Worth the watch for sure.
If you love clichés and enjoy a cheesy storyline, by all means go and watch it. But to say it is the best horror movie ever? Or to scream on social media it made you sick and puke? As far as a horror goes, this really sucks monkey balls. It is slightly better than Cabin in the woods and that was actually intended to be a horror comedy. The perfection starts out narratively fine, but the plot twists are done in such a bad way it losses all strength in doing so. And... the rewind trick? Really? Why not throw in a cliché clock wipe or can we please also add some flashes to white and back to get ourselves out of the corner we narrated ourselves in?
SO GREAT BUT ONE THING... Do not watch the trailer before, which is terrible and almost made me not watch the movie
The tone at the beginning was great. The tone in the middle was solid, and the two major plot points were fantastic. And yet... the movie just kinda wanders into this abstract artistic tone at the end that just kind of flopped for me. It's got some great content but as a whole it just didnt work for me, and the failed potential breaks my heart.
kinda feels like an alternative universe for the handmaiden, but okay
Proof that Netflix is capable of producing cinema quality horror when it tries. Like Lizzie, I give this one a hand.
Congrats to Netflix for this thunderous movie!
What an amazing cast
Please go into this as blind as possible, don't even let the pre-roll advert play on Netflix. The less you know about this movie, the more it will land.
Strange, wild, and a little of the rails, The Perfection is a fun, crazy ride if you can deal with some of it's flaws.
Very reminiscent of Japanese cult-classic Audition. But with the interesting twist of a collaboration.
Great example of revenge horror! top notch
Shout by Alejandro GarcíaBlockedParent2019-05-27T00:44:19Z
it could be good, it has the idea but fails so many times, I would not recommend this movie, even if you love thriller, horror movies, this movie it's just basic.