The Mistress (2023) - Film Review

      The Mistress, 2023.

      Written and Directed by Greg Pritkin.

      Featuring John Magaro, Chasten Harmon, Aylya Marzolf, Kat Cunning, Eddie Alfano, James Carpinello, Jake Sidney Cohen, Tina D’Marco, Alexandra Grey, and Paul Schackman.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A newlywed couple moves into their dream home only to find a trove of century-old letters from a young woman who took her own life after being deserted by the house's former owner.

      Much of The Mistress focuses heavily on the plot at the expense of creating believable characters. This is unfortunate because writer/director Greg Pritkin has a strong premise: newlyweds Parker and Madeleine (played by John Magaro and Chasten Harmon) begin to uncover love letters from an unknown woman addressed to the man of the house. The contents of these letters often parallel the narrative unfolding before us and offer a haunting critique on the recurrence of patterns through time.

      Parker appears to be a devoted husband. However, at a small housewarming gathering, it is revealed that he once had, and may still have, a potentially dangerous stalker ex-girlfriend. Additionally, there’s a neighbor, Dawn, played by Kat Cunning, who is lonely and misses her boyfriend. She appears in provocative attire, prompting Madeleine to pull Parker aside and advise him to steer clear of her.

      It's unclear whether Madeleine views Dawn as a seductress or simply distrusts her husband; this ambiguity is left for the audience to decipher. Unfortunately, the screenplay has not developed the neighbor beyond the role of a seductive blonde, leaving her character underexplored and raising questions about her possible connections to Parker or whether there’s a supernatural element involved.

      Parker is struggling to write his next novel and seeks inspiration from a traumatized man. In addition to this, he is haunted by a mysterious woman (Aylya Marzolf), who may be a ghost tied to the letters. She seems to be trying to seduce Parker, who appears more than willing to engage with her. It is evident that Parker is concealing something from his past that is bound to surface later.

      Nevertheless, The Mistress offers little beyond an interesting premise about the cyclical nature of society and history, without delving deeply into character development. Greg Pritkin enhances the film's atmosphere with moody lighting within the spacious and attractive Victorian setting, including one effective jump scare that reveals the nature of Parker's interactions (which I refer to vaguely to avoid spoilers). The performances are solid; John Magaro effectively portrays Parker as a mix of seemingly good and questionable traits, gradually unraveling amidst the unsettling occurrences.

      There is a lingering sense that at 105 minutes, The Mistress is overly lengthy. A clever concept requires equally compelling characters to support it. The film's shortcomings in character development leave the story feeling undernourished and tedious, despite its intriguing ideas. Additionally, there are a couple of late surprises that feel hasty and awkwardly executed. Although the ensemble cast nearly holds it together, the film ultimately disappoints, failing to fully leverage its intelligent concept.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He serves as the Reviews Editor for Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at [email protected]