Yes, I am talking about 'that movie', which was shot entirely on an iPhone. However, Unsane is not the first movie to be shot with an iPhone, it is Tangerine(2015) directed by Sean Baker. Perhaps Tangerine might have given Soderbergh the idea to shoot his next movie with an iPhone. Here are the top reasons to watch Unsane:
1. The Crown actress Claire Foy
Claire Foy is best known for portraying Queen Elizabeth II in the Netflix series The Crown. In Unsane she portrays Sawyer Valentini. She starts a new job to escape a stalker who has been persistently troubling her for two years.
She seeks help from a counselor in the nearby hospital but she unwittingly signs some papers that get herself admitted in the hospital. Sensing something wrong she protests in a violent manner that force the authorities to extend her time there.
Velentini meets her stalker in the hospital. The stalker got himself a job at the hospital, albeit, in a new identity. She realizes she is in danger. Her trauma goes deeper, as she mistakes other men for her stalker. This, sometimes make us doubt whether there is a stalker in real, or is she hallucinating.
Claire Foy's depiction of Valentini is very impressive. Her performance helps us identify with a victim of stalking and harassment. We are able to grasp how deep that pain is. The Crown actress does a wonderful job here as the victim of sexual harassment.
2. Matt Damon Cameo
The Bourne franchise star, Matt Damon does an interesting and funny cameo as Detective Ferguson. The Martian actor gives tips on how to escape from a stalker.
While listening to Damon's tips, we feel like we are reading an internet article titled: '10 Ways to Deal with a Stalker' or 'What to do if you are being Stalked.' And that's funny, in a way.
3. An impressive cast
Unsane can definitely boast of an impressive supporting cast. Juno Temple delivers a scene-stealing performance as one of the inmates of the psychiatry ward. She shares a bitter relationship with Claire Foy's Valentini. Valentini is instantly repulsed by Temple's character and always engage in a fight with her.
Jay Pharoah's character Nate Hoffman, a recovering addict, is very warm and offers every possible help to Valentini. He is the only sane person Valentini meets at hospital. He informs her of the criminal activities of the hospital officials.
Joshua Leonard's stalker David Strine is very creepy. He is an impotent, or a man-child, capable of doing many dangerous things, even murdering Valentini's mother (Amy Irving).
4. The theme of stalking
Unsane comes to you at the time of the #metoo movement and the fresh focus on the issue of sexual harassment. At the time of writing media mogul Harvey Weinstein has been indicted on rape and Criminal Sex Act charges, thanks to the women who exposed his sexual violence through hashtag movement called #metoo.
In that sense, the timing of Unsane is perfect. It puts Hollywood's focus back on the issues of harassment. The movie also serves as a tool that opens up the psyche of 'online predators'. In countries like India many women have been killed or ended up taking their own lives due to stalking.
5. iPhone cinematography
Unsane's biggest USP was its use of iPhones for shooting instead of the conventional camera. The hype created by the iPhone news had made everyone curious. The movie used iPhone 7 plus and shot it in 4K with the help of an app called FiLMiC Pro.
When I first saw the Unsane trailer, my first impressions were not that great. I thought the movie looked 'cheap' and I feared the final result would look like some direct to DVD flick. However, director Steven Soderbergh has succeeded in disrupting that notion of mine and proved his choice was solid.
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