Black Bear - Movie Review

Critics Score - 8 of 10

General Audience Score - 6 of 10

Black Bear takes us on a unique dive into the filmmaking experience. The viewer gets to go on a sort of behind the scenes in movie making and it’s one wild ride. Is this ride for you?

PROS - Black Bear is a story we’ve never heard before. This original roller coaster ride of a film provides many twists and turns as we roll around every corner of the story. Aubrey Plaza plays Allison, an actress/director who heads to a remote cabin to stay with a couple as she prepares to tackle her next film project. The acting by Plaza is really the best work of her career and after Ingrid Goes West, she’s really starting to show her acting chops post Parks and Rec. She fits in well as the entire cast does an excellent job at bringing these “movie characters” to life. The rug gets pulled out from under the viewers as Allison and her weekend hosts relationships . . . let’s just use the word evolve. As our understanding of the characters’ dynamics changes, we are left guessing at the mystery of just who’s playing who, who’s getting cheated and manipulated and what’s real and what’s movie.

Aside from the acting, many of the films elements and crafts are very well constructed. The screenwriting and story are very good and as far as the films overall concept, I can only imagine it would have been terribly difficult to put on paper. Some of the movies shots are gorgeous and show real cinematic flare. The dreary feel of the retreat by the lake is nothing new, but it does have the ominous and foreboding nature of many a thrillers’ foggy and watery backdrop. This film does a fantastic job of playing its’ audience like a fiddle, but not everyone will want to be played.

CONS - Black Bear is a guessing game. The mysterious nature of the movie, it’s twists, double backs and almost time loop of sorts will keep you guessing at what’s real right up to and after the credits roll. Those types of films can be frustrating and are certainly not for everyone.

The finale to Black Bear is also left purposefully ambiguous. While I hesitate to say it didn’t work that well, I definitely felt it could’ve delivered more of a knock out punch before the credits rolled.

SUMMARY - The game Black Bear plays is one of suspicion, suspense and intrigue, and it plays it extremely well. All in all it’s a riveting piece of filmmaking that lays the tension on thick. Although there are those that will ultimately walk away from the film with a bitter taste in mouth, so many others, like myself, will find a walk through the woods with this Black Bear to be incredibly satisfying.