GRETA
US, 2018, 98 minutes, Colour.
Isabelle Huppert, Chloe Grace Moretz, Maika Monroe, Colm Fiore, Zawe Ashton, Stephen Rea.
Directed by Neil Jordan.
Directed by Neil Jordan.
Greta is a woman with deep problems. And, the screenplay depicting her and how she acts out her problems has some plot problems in itself.
This is a psychological thriller, a collection of all kinds of familiar ingredients all stirred together and coming up with a story and developments which are still quite familiar. To this extent, pervading the whole film and its characters and situations, it is rather disappointing, especially as it comes from director Neil Jordan who for over 30 years has built up a solid reputation and some outstanding films, including The End of the Affair, the Crying Game, The Butcher Boy.
Greta is played by Isabelle Huppert who has been headlining films for over 40 years, an actress of great virtuosity, capable of performing all kinds of roles. We haven’t seen her quite like this although she uses her capacity for sometimes looking quite impassive while a whole lot is going on inside her mind and with her feelings.
However, the story belongs to a young woman, Frances, played by Chloe Grace Moretz, who sees an abandoned briefcase in the New York subway, takes it home where her roommate, Erica, Maika Monroe goes through it. But, Frances is honourable and takes it to the owner who welcomes her, is friendly, allows Frances to take her to buy a dog as a companion in her loneliness.
Fatal! Greta’s response is definitely a fatal attraction.
What follows is, as mentioned, familiar enough. Greta starts to be present, ever-present, standing vigil outside the restaurant where Frances works, suddenly appearing, stalking, mysteriously taking and sending photos as she follows Erica through the streets. When Frances complains to the police, they say they can’t do anything and that Frances will just have to endure it.
Desperate, Frances is advised to pretend to go away, trying to placate Greta. Fatal!
By this stage, some of the elements of abduction, torment and the touch of torture, come into play, Greta really out of mind (having created a personal back story which has no element of truth). Stephen Rea, who appears in most of Neil Jordan’s films, turns up as a private detective but obviously has not seen the enough films about private detectives leaving themselves open to attack by the stalker and so has only a very small, brief cameo role.
The device for the solution for the film also seems exceedingly contrived.
It is an opportunity to see Isabelle Huppert and her working with Chloe Grace Moretz but, the whole venture is rather ordinary.
1. The title, the focus on Greta? Greta, Isabelle Huppert, her French background?
2. The New York City settings, apartments, restaurants, the streets, the subway? The feel of the city? The musical score in the various moods?
3. The psychological drama, drama of madness and obsession, stalking? The horror elements?
4. Frances’s story, her age, relationship with her father, scientist, communication with him, the story of her mother? Her moving out? Erica, flatmate, her style? In the subway, the bag, taking it home, Erica going through it, Frances’s reaction? The address, finding the house, the visit to Greta, the cup of coffee, the atmosphere? The Chopin? The piano, the photos? The banging on the wall and Greta’s explanation? (And the banging recurring later with Frances banging?)
5. Greta, her age, personality, her story, husband and daughter, the apartment, French background, her daughter in Paris, study? The piano and learning? Going to buy the dog, Frances and her support?
6. Greta, arrival, imposing, Frances’s reaction against her? The continued pressures, the stalking, watching? The effect on Frances, the restaurant, Greta standing outside for hours? Calling the police, their not being able to help, information about getting documents to keep her away?
7. The true story of Greta, Hungarian, her daughter, the suicide, the information about Bellevue? Greta and her mental state? Frances at home, the phone calls, Erica, the photos being sent, Greta following her? Getting the taxi, almost hit?
8. The discussions with Erica, deciding to lie to Greta, the sincerity of her story? Greta not wanting her to lie, the implicit threat?
9. Greta finding that Frances had lied, her being taken, the drugs, put in the box, released, the vault, her life, the piano lessons and hitting her hands, the further pills?
10. Frances chopping off Greta’s finger? The attempt to flee, the Gothic atmosphere of the house, the bodies? Her being bound and gagged?
11. The relationship with her father, his thinking she was on holidays with Erica, Erica thinking she was with her father? The private detective, his tracking down Greta? His carelessness, the syringe, his death?
12. The new bag on the subway? The new girl, the interview, Frances listening, the banging on the wall, Erica removing her wig, hitting Greta? The two putting her in the box?
13. Familiar material? Stalking material?
