The Assessment Movie Review (2024)
An tense thriller about a dystopian future where couples who want a child must complete a 7 day assessment, The Assessment feels like a slowly building nightmare.
Horror movies come in many forms these days. I am not a fan of the ones with the creepy music and jump scares, but a lot of psychological thrillers border on horror. You don’t have to see something scary to start feeling unnerved anymore, and there are some excellent movies that are able to subtly creep into your bones before you even know what’s happening.
The Assessment is about married couple, Mia and Aaryan, who would like to have a child. In this dystopian future, you must complete a very secretive 7 day assessment to qualify, so Virginia arrives at their door as their assessor. She will live with them for the week, putting them through all kinds of tests and letting them know if they pass or fail at the end.
This is the kind of movie that sneaks up on you. You feel the tension in the air from the first moments of the film, but you feel as if it may be because you are in a different world and don’t have any footing. That is true, but director Fleur Fortuné does an excellent job of keeping you just as in the dark as Mia and Aaryan as they find themselves facing unexpected challenges. Plus, when your life’s dream is based on what this one assessor is asking of you, you comply to the best of your ability.
Elizabeth Olsen, Himesh Patel, and Alicia Vikander are all excellent here, each finding their own moments to shine. There are a few other actors in the movie for a short time, but primarily, this trio is the film. Each struggles with a separate internal battle, and although you never know the intentions of Vikander’s Virginia, you do eventually see her framed differently, which is satisfying.
The future that these three live in feels heavily strained, with Aaryan working on virtual reality projects to revive some of what was lost, and Mia studying plant-life in her greenhouse. The beach outside their home is like an oasis of nature, which all three take advantage of during their week, although just like the rest of the film, what feels like it could be a nice opportunity often turns on its head.
I do need to leave a trigger warning for this film, as one sexual scene is extremely unsettling and I would be remiss not to mention it. I don’t like to give too much away about movies that benefit from your going in with little knowledge, but this one is necessary.
The Assessment is a well-crafted psychological thriller with horror elements that will leave you feeling uncomfortable and unsure through most of the movie. I felt like I was holding my breath for over an hour, but I appreciate the crafting of a piece like this. It is entirely about the actors, the ambiance, and the story. And in a hopeless world where very little happens, this is a pretty impressive execution.
Runtime: 107 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: English
Should You Watch It? Yes
Did I Cry? Nope
My Rating: 3.75/5 Stars
Available: Free on Hulu, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
