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Anniversary
The first look at Anniversary, the upcoming psychological thriller from director Jan Komasa, promises a stylish, gripping, and deeply uncomfortable domestic nightmare. Anchored by two generations of immense talent—veterans Diane Lane and Kyle Chandler alongside rising stars Phoebe Dynevor and Dylan O’Brien—the film immediately sets itself up as a sharp critique of modern social and political fractures, all played out within the intimate, claustrophobic confines of a family celebration. This is not the standard Hollywood fare; it’s a sophisticated, slow-burn thriller that seems poised to leave an unsettling chill long after the credits roll.
The trailer opens in deceptively familiar territory: a loving family gathers for Ellen (Diane Lane) and Paul’s (Kyle Chandler) twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The initial warmth is palpable, yet the air is thick with the unspoken tensions that plague any close-knit unit. This veneer of perfection is shattered by the arrival of Liz (Phoebe Dynevor, brilliantly cast as the poised interloper), the new girlfriend of their son, Josh. We quickly learn that Liz is an old student of Ellen’s, described ominously as "radical in her ideology." The core conflict instantly ignites, transforming the celebratory dinner party into a psychological battleground. Lane’s portrayal of Ellen—a mother and teacher whose intuition screams danger—is immediately compelling, providing the perfect counterpoint to Dynevor’s unnervingly calm and evasive performance. It's a testament to the trailer's editing that the dialogue is so instantly venomous: "We don’t bite." "Sure you do."
What separates Anniversary from a simple family drama is the underlying context established by Komasa and screenwriter Lori Rosene-Gambino. The personal conflict between Ellen and Liz acts as a microcosm for a national crisis involving a mysterious rising movement called “The Change.” This infusion of broader social commentary elevates the narrative, suggesting the film will use the family’s fracturing as a mirror for widespread societal division and paranoia. The tension is exquisitely ramped up, moving from passive-aggressive dinner conversation to full-blown domestic warfare, complete with smashed glass and terrified whispers of a missing sister.
Komasa, known for his ability to blend intimate character studies with major socio-political themes, appears to be using a pristine, polished cinematic vision to depict something truly corrosive. The photography is clean, the performances measured, yet the emotional violence conveyed in those two minutes is stunning. For UK audiences, the presence of Dynevor, continuing her successful transition from period drama to intense thriller, is particularly exciting.
In essence, the Anniversary trailer offers a gripping promise: a devastating exploration of trust, loyalty, and how ideological warfare can obliterate the fabric of a family. If the finished product lives up to this meticulously crafted, highly anxious preview, we could be looking at one of the standout psychological thrillers of the year.
