The Assessment: LFF Film Review
I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Olsen and will watch anything she’s in so naturally The Assessment was high on my watchlist for LFF. She absolutely delivers once again, even if the film is a bit hit-and-miss.
The sci-fi film is set in a dystopian future where people are not allowed to conceive children whenever they please. To have a child, prospective couples must first pass an assessment to prove their suitability for parenthood. Scientists Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel) must host their assessor Virginia (Alicia Vikander) at their home for seven days and endure all manner of challenges in order to pass the test.
This film reminded me a lot of Ex Machina, a film I absolutely love. Obviously, there’s the Alicia Vikander connection but there are other parallels. They’re both sci-fi films set in futuristic worlds but set largely inside one location – a home – and there is a test involved; the Turing Test (for Ex Machina) and The Assessment here.
I really liked the world-building, learning about their way of life and the new rules of the authoritarian regime. Their home is different to the norm and I really dug the unusual production design.
The premise is excellent and I was gripped throughout, although it gets quite repetitive after day three and one character is maddening. Thankfully, the assessment is punctuated by a terrific dinner sequence that breaks up the repetition and briefly gives us extra characters, including Minnie Driver as the bitchy Evie. The story builds to a dramatic and unpredictable third act that is much darker and bleaker than expected. I respected the choice!
Olsen is terrific in everything and The Assessment is no exception. I felt frustrated on Mia’s behalf as Virginia deliberately tried to push their buttons, provoke them and play them against each other. Patel’s character is more of a passive figure in the war between the two strong women. Vikander hasn’t played such an interesting role in a long time. She really gets to show off her physicality and dance background as their “child”.
The Assessment is a compelling domestic sci-fi with a trio of top performances.
Seen at the London Film Festival