Pyewacket

The last twenty minutes felt a bit rushed and disorganized, compared to the languid, but tightly thought-out, slow-burn pace of the first 3/4 of the movie. But this meditation on impulsivity in the context of peer and parental relationships results in a very fine entry nonetheless. Yes, it is a "horror" movie (particularly towards the end). But it is also about human relationships.

That said, this is not a dialogue-intensive feature. Rather, there is heavy reliance on mood, lighting and subtle gestures to move the plot along (if you don't pay attention, it can be easy to miss important clues). As a result, this movie could have been a bomb. But I was VERY impressed with Nicole Muñoz, who manages to carry the weight of a near-100% screen time admirably. She is able to give us a very realistic depiction of a struggling teenager who swings between hope, anger, boredom and curiosity, as she negotiates a move with her mother away from her former home. Recommended for sure.