Erin Vassilopoulos makes her directorial debut with a dramatic thriller about estranged twin sisters reuniting when one is in danger.
Much of Erin Vassilopoulos’ moody, something’s-wrong-in-the-suburbs directorial debut,
Superior, takes place in a Reagan-era Barbie Dreamhouse come to life. Within its mint and pink-punch walls live Vivian (Ani Mesa) and Michael (Jake Hoffman), a young couple who are dismayed when her estranged twin sister, Marian (Alessandra Mesa, Ani’s own twin), a touring rock musician, drops by unannounced during a thawing winter and asks to stay for a few days. On the run from a young man (Pico Alexander) who looks like he’s doing rockabilly-hitman cosplay with his slicked-back hair, too-shiny leather trench and ominous leather gloves, Marian dreams that he breaks into her sister’s home at night, calming the couple’s three huskies so he can finish what he started.
Superior is a slow-burn that ventures outside the norm when it comes to identity, often blurring the lines between one twin and the other as the film goes on.
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Superior is Beautiful and Bland
Erin Vassilopoulos’ feature debut is meticulously designed but lacks the story to hold up its beauty.
Sundance Institute
A film’s style is crucial in establishing its tone and atmosphere, informing the viewer about what to expect, at least aesthetically. It can be a feast for the eyes and can transport the viewer into the film’s world. But unfortunately relying solely on style cannot save a movie. Such is the case with filmmaker
Erin Vassilopoulos’ feature debut,
Alessandra Mesa and Ani Mesa, this drama about identity relishes in its vibe and pushes the story to the side.