A good drama can go a long way, andLuckiest Girl Alivewith Mila Kunis is one of the latest entries in the genre. It’s about a New York author whose successful life begins to fall apart when she has to come face to face with her past. The critical reception has been quite cool, but this adaptation of Jessica Knoll’s novel does have its fans.
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While its execution isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, there are some who like its proverbial brew. However, whether people lovedLuckiest Girl Aliveor detested it, there are a few other hard-hitting dramas that hit the same targets. They’re an emotional rollercoaster with plenty of thrills and chills along the way. Give these films a go!
5Martha Marcy May Marlene
Elizabeth Olsen’s titular character is a member of a cult in the Catskill Mountains. She was born Martha but was renamed Marcy May by its leader Patrick. She escapes captivity to live with her sister Lucy and her partner Ted at their vacation house. But the bad habits she learned from the cult, as well as her traumatic memories, cause trouble. Especially when she starts getting contacted by ‘Marlene Lewis,’ one of the cult’s code names.
The film was one of Olsen’s early roles, coming out pre-Godzillaand pre-Avengers: Age of Ultron, and it really showcases her abilities. Her character’s descent into paranoia as she fears the cult’s tightening grasp really gets the viewer concerned for her, as they attempt to figure out if her fears are founded or if it’s all in her head. It’s only available on Hulu for streaming, but can be bought or rented from Amazon, Google, YouTube, Vudu, Microsoft, Redbox, and more.
4Perfect Blue
Yoshikazu Takeuchi’s original novelPerfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosishas received a few adaptations, from a live-action film in 2002 to a TV drama series in 2012. But its most popular adaptation was the 1997animated film by Satoshi Kon. It follows Mima Kirigoe, a former pop star reluctantly embarking on an acting career.
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Things get worse for her as her guilt from leaving her band mixes with the stress of her acting role, a stalker following her around, and a website detailing every little thing about her life without her knowledge. She falls into a state of psychosis right around the time a series of murders relating to her upcoming film start happening. Is she the killer? Or is it someone else? The film can be found on Shudder, and on AMC+ through Amazon Prime.
3A Mouthful Of Air
This one is very close toLuckiest Girl Aliveon the surface, in that it’s also about an author whose life gets turned upside down. Except this time, the trauma comes from current events. Author Julie Davis,played by Amanda Seyfried, made her name writing children’s books about handling fear. But when her second child is born, she has to learn to handle her own or succumb to her post-natal anxiety.
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Also, likeLuckiest Girl Alive, the critical reception has been a little mixed, but largely positive with68% on Rotten Tomatoes. Seyfried’s performance was praised in particular for being compelling and heartbreaking. People on Starz (either directly or through Roku and Amazon Prime) or DirecTV can catch the film.
2Not Okay
Not Okayswitches gears by being similar toLuckiest Girl Alivein premise, but not in the genre. It’s a satirical dark comedy about someone who gets mistaken for someone suffering. Danni Saunders is a photo editor for a fashion magazine who wants to make it big as a writer. She lies about attending a writing conference in Paris to impress her social media influencer friends, including editing photos of herself at the Arc du Triomphe…right as a terrorist incident occurs there in real life.
Now she’s famous for ‘surviving’ the attack and befriends other survivors of traumatic incidents. But how long can she keep her fame until she’s exposed? The film delves into the consequences of pretending to be something else for clout: how it affects family, friends, social life, and more, both positive and negative. It may be a comedy, but itdoesn’t take its subject lightly. Anyone who wants to give it a shot can find it on Hulu.
1The Fallout
SinceNot Okaywas about the fallout of someone pretending to survive a traumatic event, how about a film about the fallout of actually surviving one?The Falloutis about Vada and her friends after they survive a shooting at their school by hiding in a bathroom stall. She withdraws from her friends and family, including her best friend Nick. Her coping mechanisms, like drugs and sex, get her into more trouble, and she can’t bring herself to head back into the stall.
It’s a strong portrayal of what survivors of shooting incidents go through following such events. Some become activists, while others withdraw from the world. Therapy can help, yet the suffering never goes away. Jenna Ortega’s performance as Vada was especially praised, with many calling ither breakout role. So, The Falloutmight just be the reason to keep that HBO Max account, as the film is only available there for streaming.
