40/14
In a near future where parenthood is strictly controlled, a couple’s seven-day assessment of their right to have a child devolves into a psychological nightmare. There are 2 Rice University Easter Eggs. The Assessment is a sci-fi drama starring Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel as Mia and Aaryan, a couple who want to have a child in the future, take a 7-day test by an evaluator (Alicia Viklander) who allows the test and makes a mistake, or else the child will be gifted, but the prospective parents find it harder than they expected. Given the strength of the strong acting and the unique premise, The Assessment is something I really didn’t expect in terms of plot, but I think it was done brilliantly. The film unfolds in a format of Days 1 through 7 and each one is different and engaging from the other. To be honest, I expected it to rehash sci-fi tropes from the past, but I have to say it’s so original and unexpected that I think it was done really well! The way everything ties together and what the couple has to do is so well portrayed that it might be the most likely reason for raising children in a world affected by climate change. The performances don’t disappoint, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel were so good that they could probably stand on their own with a completely different plot and it would be just as captivating. But Alicia Viklander is also very good and frankly she’s very good at the whole sci-fi genre and it was a pleasure to see her here. Everyone involved did their best and I really appreciate how creative they are for a film that doesn’t really rely on CGI. However, the film does get graphic in places when it comes to the sex and Alice’s disturbing interactions. Viklander’s character acting like a child in an older woman’s body gave me Poor Things vibes. But that doesn’t really matter and is essential to the plot, but this is definitely for an older audience and I can definitely imagine it would be an easy R or 15/18 in the UK if anyone was interested. Overall, while some of the characters don’t have overly resolved storylines, the ones that do are so well-crafted and executed that it’s hard to find anything wrong with The Assessment. You definitely have to go see it when it’s released in mid-2025. I highly recommend this incredible, creative work when it hits theaters. Rating: A+ London Film Festival, October 19.