You (2018)

Written by acuvox on July 29, 2022

A glib and under-rating description would be "Dexter" meets "Shades of Grey" and Jane Austen. This dramedy combines the worst attributes of "Pop TV" - beautiful people, cliché dialog, white people's problems - with deep and troubling questions about the cultural variables of murder taboo, attraction, nuclear family, literacy, and 'romance'. The educated and skilled characters are all broken in different ways - the authoritarian Mr. Mooney, the mother looking for Mr. Goodbar, the 'New Age' capitalists and their progeny, the multi-PTSD protagonist, and the objects of his affection. (his real love is BOOKS)

... all juxtaposed in this narrative told by inner voices with some of the most intelligent and empathic therapists to grace the screen. Even low latent inhibition and OCD Joe, in his sisyphian hero's journey of "trying to be good" has to admit and ACT on their advice, despite entering into their care for ulterior motives.

Yes, there are thrills, chills, and mind-splatting plot twists; but there is also an engaging contrast between Hallmark dumb saccharine, original relationship dynamics, and brainy philosophical questions. This adds up to fiction as strange and unpredictable as real life.

I also applaud the charismatic casting, including thinking man's bombshell Saffron Borrows. This is not high art, but it is intellectually stimulating for genre aficionados, highly relevant to our sick and fast changing culture, and quite entertaining. I might add, addictive.