A Twisted Symphony of Horror and Revenge
Like many psychological horrors, The Perfection has a rather darker side that captures the depths of a human’s psyche through the lens of classical music. Directed by Richard Shepard, the film elegantly encapsulates revenge and trauma and its shocking twists are ensured to astonish the viewer, especially through the lens of body horror. The Perfection released on Netflix in 2018, unpacks the amalgamation of blended narratives in their purest forms.
Plot Summary
In a world of elite professionals in cello performers, Charlotte Willmore (Allison Williams) is a Pegasus that is killed too soon, an exceptionally gifted child who had to ditch her aspirations of being a world-class musician because she had to nurse her ailing mother. Years later, she meets Anton (Steven Weber), the director of the esteemed Bachoff Academy and his star pupil Elizabeth “Lizzie” Wells (Logan Browning). She is poised to take over the world.
Lizzie and Charlotte’s bond seems almost unbreakable until their vacation to China descends into a nightmare. While Lizzie suffers from severe sickness, hallucinations and paranoia instigate a gruesome chain of events that lay bare the terrible reality of the prestigious music academy. What begins as a mentorship-turned-rivalry evolves into a complex tale of manipulation, trauma, and vengeance, culminating in a climax that is shocking yet deeply satisfying.
Themes and Psychological Depth
At its core, The Perfection revolves around the thrust of meeting one’s own expectations, the trauma of abuse, and what people are willing to go through for an illusion of control. The Perfection’s disturbing elements are blended into horror within an insular institution, amplifying themes of power, corruption, and revenge.
The deception The Perfection portrays blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Just when the viewer thinks they have foundational understanding of the narrative, The Perfection pulls the rug from under them, forcing a reassessment of everything that has been presented until that moment. The element of misdirection is what makes the film profoundly unsettling.
Performances & Character Dynamics
Allison Williams, particularly recognized for her role in ‘Get Out’, yet again serves chills with a performance that is everything but soothing. Her Charlotte oscillates between a helpless and an incredibly intense character, and Armitage carefully maneuvers his portrayal of her as both a tragic and creepy figure. Lizzie, portrayed by Logan Browning, is equally fascinating as the role of a seemingly flawless prodigy who slowly descends into madness. Their chemistry is palpable, which makes the development of their relationship, first from idolization to hostility to something darker, even more interesting.
The passive and active cast actors, Steven Weber as Anton, heighten the terror as they personify the abusive, domineering power relationships that exist in high level music pedagogy. These performances will also serve the film’s ideas about domination and violence.
Direction, Cinematography, & Music
Shepard demonstrates mastery in managing the shifts in tone and storyline from psychological thriller to body horror to revenge drama. The direction of Richard Shepard is obsessional in every detail. Here is no doubt that the compositional style of the film is and will remain set in the classical genre.
Its score serves an important role in the film, crafting tension through haunting cello compositions accompanying the accompaniment’s emotional and psychological descent into madness. The story’s music is not merely a part of the scenery. It both symbolizes and fights as a part of the tale.
Aesthetic Elements and Twists
The Perfection is not for the weak-hearted. The film showcases intense body horror, grotesque images, and psychological torment which may be disturbing to some viewers. The first act sets the tone for the rest of the film’s unpredictability with a shocking sequence involving hallucinations, parasites, and self-mutilation.
What makes The Perfection extraordinary is its ability to defy expectations. Just when viewers think they have nailed the direction of the film, it takes another surprising unexpected turn which keeps audience engaged and uneasy at the same time. With a structure the film is divided into multiple chapters, the flowing of different tones and story lines is magnificent.
Audience Response and Critical Reception
When first released, The Perfection received a mix of audience and critic reviews. The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes currently has a 73% critics score and cites an overwhelming support for the film’s daring plot telling, strong performances, and its unnerving atmosphere. Audience scores are not as favorable as some believe the imagery and extreme tone changes to be too divisive.
Dennis Harvey in Variety pointed out that ‘The Perfection’ is easier to admire than hate given the films laced structure of jarring revelations. Many others have likened it to movies such as ‘Black Swan’ and ‘Whiplash’, but with more dark, and grotesque undertones.
Final Thoughts
The Perfection is a radical, risk taking psychological horror drama, In a brilliantly flawless blend of music and horror, the audience witnesses a spine-chilling capriciousness that lingers much after the movie ends. While some find the excessive gory nature and disturbing plots unsuitable for their liking, others who appreciate bold slashes of psychological horror will find it hard to ignore the brilliance of The Perfection.