Sweetheart (2019) Review!!!

Synopsis – Jenn has washed ashore a small tropical island and it doesn’t take her long to realize she’s completely alone. She must spend her days not only surviving the elements, but must also fend off the malevolent force that comes out each night.

My Take – While survival films are usually hit or miss, this hidden gem to come out of Sundance this year is one of those films that ended up being a complete and total surprise. Mainly as the film, backed by Blumhouse, the producers of Get Out and the Paranormal Activity franchise and directed by J.D. Dillard, despite crafting a simple setup deliciously puts a creature-feature spin on the sub-genre. While on the surface the description may not sound very appealing, but the execution is simply outstanding.

Sure, it may not be the scariest film you see this year, but it sure does an incredible job of ramping up the tension and mystery as the story keeps unfolding. Not only did it get under my skin due to the paralyzing idea of being stranded on an island with something unknown, but it also incorporated a creature that was relentless in its pursuit of its prey.

All the while digging deeper into themes such as isolation and discovery of one’s self. If I had to give you one reason to see this film, it would be, undoubtedly, Kiersey Clemons’ performance.

The story follows Jenn (Kiersey Clemons), who wakes to find herself washed up on a small tropical island, after a boating accident. She also discovers one of her shipmates Brad (Benedict Samuel), is lying close to her, however, due to a coral puncturing his side, he quickly bleeds out, leaving Jenn all alone.

Hoping to survive until help comes, Jenn goes about exploring the island where she stumbles across an abandoned campsite nearby filled with items decades old. Not finding anyone, she begins to construct a shelter to protect herself from the elements while also searching for food.

However, when night time comes in, she realizes that a supernatural predator claims dominion over the island and its surrounding waters, forcing Jenn to find a way to live through the dark and make it back to sea in the light of day.

A good portion of the film is just about spending time with Jenn without much dialog. Even though she barely says much, the silence is filled by noises of her setting up camp, exploring, and hunting. But it is undeniable that Kiersey Clemons has a certain presence, one which makes watching her focus on survival enjoyable. Plus, once the creature shows up, you are invested to the point you want to see her survive, and that helps this film immensely.

With his second narrative feature, director J.D. Dillard (the first being 2016’s Sleight) unfolds a simple narrative with great interest and complexity. He largely seems unconcerned about the mystery behind Jenn. When she washes up on the island we don’t immediately know how she got there, or what she was like before. But that’s okay, because what matters is the warrior she’s becoming.

With very few places to hide, Jenn has to figure out how to put any barrier between herself and her hunter. There’s an attempt at using height, but all she has is a makeshift hammock. There’s an attempt at a haven, but all she can find is a hollowed out palm tree. These two scenes in particular are quite effective in giving the audience a good jump.

Yes, surprisingly all jump scares are earned here, and the monster is scary in appearance and sound. In fact, director Dillard seems to understand the concept of less is more and therefore creates an environment that audiences can be invested in because our imagination fills in the gaps of things we don’t see.

While further into the film, we do get a few answers to the how and why. By that time though, the film has hooked us in and it’s clear the answers to those questions don’t matter. Explanations are insignificant to Jenn’s plight. In fact, director Dillard almost uses exposition and the past as a weapon to challenge the audience’s preconceptions of who people are versus who people can become.

Just like with the creature, this is executed with subtly and gives the film a deeper meaning than just being a typical creature feature. The effects are uniformly fantastic, and although the creature may appear a little silly to some, but once he reveals his capabilities and where it drags its victims, it’s easy to be onboard. The film also benefits from substantial production contributions all around, including Stefan Duscio’s ability to capture the Fijian setting in beautiful widescreen, Gina Hirsch’s tight editing, and Charles Scott IV’s threatening score.

However, what brings down the film’s overall impact down a notch are an unnecessary plot holes. For example, the sequence of Jenn finding a camp site filled with supplies like matches seemed a bit too convenient. And is it me or did Jenn look simply a bit too clean for someone trying to survive on a deserted island whilst trying not to be eaten alive?

Even the appearance of two new characters from the same shipwreck in the form of Jenn’s boyfriend Lucas (Emory Cohen) and their friend Mia (Hanna Mangan Lawrence), seemed unnecessary, despite being serviceable to the final act of the plot.

Nevertheless, a handful of contrivances aside, the film deserves a watch for Kiersey Clemons who is great here. Here, Clemons gives a standout performance as most of the film is on her shoulders, and manages to convey her desperation, fascination, joy, and fear in captivating ways. In smaller roles, Emory Cohen, Hanna Mangan Lawrence and Benedict Samuel are alright. On the whole, ‘Sweetheart’ is a small yet solid creature feature film that is both mysterious and exciting.