Film Review – Unidentified (2025)

      Unidentified, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Haifaa al-Mansour.

      Starring Mila Al-Zahrani, Aziz Gharbawi, Shafi Al Harthy, Adwa Alasiri, and Othoub Sharar.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      A mourning mother, driven by her interest in true crime, searches for answers when a teenage girl is discovered dead in the desert and the police investigation halts. From writer/director Haifaa al-Mansour, Unidentified stands out as a thriller that tempts one to rush to the conclusion while discussing it, as it features a significant twist that feels not only absurd but also deviates from the grounded tone of real-world social issues in Riyadh, instead resembling the style of a low-quality airport novel. When the twist is revealed, it seems to belong to an entirely different film. This isn’t to suggest that the director isn’t trying to deliver a message about patriarchy; however, the absurdity overshadows the intent, and the story would have benefited from concluding about ten minutes earlier.

      Taking a fresh approach to murder mysteries, the narrative follows aspiring police detective Noelle (Mila Al-Zahrani, effectively portraying a woman troubled by her past and the misogynistic society that restricts women’s opportunities). She obsessively watches an influencer who analyzes various American murder cases while working in a precinct surrounded by men who doubt her capabilities beyond her current responsibilities. When a dead teenage girl is discovered, a twist arises: the detectives are tasked not only with finding a suspect but also uncovering the girl’s identity. If no one claims her within two weeks, her body will be laid to rest in an unmarked grave, and for Noelle, this situation hits close to home.

      Following a slow beginning where Noelle is initially consulted for her opinion on the crime scene, she begins to defy her superiors to seek more information. She eventually connects with two high school girls who were acquainted with the deceased. Shortly after, she starts receiving cryptic messages from unknown sources tied to the incident (the prologue hints that the body was transported into the desert and abandoned). What sets Unidentified apart from typical American murder mysteries is the prompt identification of the deceased midway through, leading the story to focus on a family reluctant to claim the girl due to issues related to sexism and her lifestyle.

      The film also attempts to explore Noelle’s inner struggles, including a disapproving brother who believes she should remarry (she has already experienced an arranged marriage that lasted five years and ended in divorce, despite appearing to be under 25). There are also elements involving her abusive ex-husband and a stillborn daughter, which primarily serve as distractions that contribute little to the story. While this subplot exists for a reason, it mostly serves the wrong purposes. The poor color grading in these flashbacks and performances reminiscent of a soap opera do not help.

      Noelle's attempts to connect with the family to emphasize that the girl is still part of them are both engaging and poignant, featuring a few sobering conversations. However, whenever the focus shifts back to identifying the killer, there lingers a sense that the outcome will be far-fetched. For a film that takes its time moving away from formulaic interrogations to build tension, this recognizable aspect detracts from the overall experience of Unidentified.

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

      Robert Kojder