CinemaSerf (March 28, 2024)

"Celine" (Anne Hathaway) and "Alice" (Jessica Chastain) are neighbours, and their sons "Max" and "Theo" best pals. It's when a tragedy ensues that the family's dynamics are profoundly altered and the two women's relationship is quickly underpinned by feelings of resentment and mistrust. In the end, it's "Celine" who appears to offer the olive branch, but it doesn't take long for "Alice" to begin to suspect that she has an ulterior motive. For quite a while, director Benoît Delhomme manages to keep the apprehensive and tense atmosphere going as the pair quite cleverly challenge us to choose whom to believe. Sadly, though, that is all rather abruptly clarified for us and we are presented with a rather disappointing denouement that really is full of holes. That said, there is an effective chemistry between these actors who quiet successfully imbue their characters with quite a potent mix of determination and as the title suggests, a protective instinct for those closest to them. It's well paced throughout and is certainly worth a watch - though the television will do fine, cinema doesn't really add much by way of visuals or photography to this quite quirky at times thriller.