Mollie Binkley writes and directs Occupied (2011) a psychological thriller about a young woman Sarah
(Liza Binkley) who goes to babysit her cousin Charlotte (Lucy Bock) in her home
in the countryside while her father is away on business. This would be the perfect vacation except
Sarah is suffering from some emotional trauma that threatens her from the
inside out.
Sarah’s relationship with the young and precocious Charlotte
is the stuff of BFFs even if it has been many years since the two have seen
each other but the isolation from the rest of the world slowly tears at Sarah
in ways that she was no expecting and the safe place in the countryside becomes
a prison for both of them.
This is not a horror film in the traditional sense but a character
piece that builds slowly as you get to learn about the two women and the
different worlds that they come from.
Binkley does a great job building the character relationships between
the two as well as the history subtlety instead on large chunks of
information. I also must commend Binkley
who holds her own and can carry most of the weight of the film on her shoulders
but I cannot dismiss Bock who is exceptionally good as well.
Because the film is a character piece it may be a tad slow
for most viewers but the cinematography of Noah Rosenthal brings the idyllic
countryside to life and is never boring especially considering the fact that
most of the film takes place in a single house.
The film makers make a lot out of the limited means that they have. This is a very good debut film from Binkley
who does a fine job with character pieces and I hope she continues on this road
with future productions.
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