Greta (2019)

Directed by Neil Jordan. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Isabelle Huppert, Maika Monroe, Stephen Rea, Colm Feore, Zawe Ashton. [R]

Young Moretz finds a woman’s handbag on the New York City subway and returns it to its rightful owner, an elderly French widow named Greta (Huppert), who invites her in for coffee. Soon after, though, Greta shows an unhealthy fixation on Moretz—a surrogate daughter, perhaps?—and when Moretz tries to break ties, the you-know-what hits the fan. Director Jordan can’t decide how he wants it—an arty psychological thriller that’s cold around the heart or an outrageous and campy shocker that sees “over the top” as a mere launching pad—and the actors follow suit. Moretz doesn’t get nearly hysterical enough about her ice-veined stalker, and is far too easy to capitulate, even forgive, while Huppert tries too hard to reign in her mischief and remain poised and enigmatic even after the full depths of her character’s madness are revealed (that little spring in her step when pouncing on a nosy interloper, however, is a wicked delight). Even with the above average production values and a few juicy scenes, it’s altogether too obvious and formulaic to ever really take off. Story by Ray Wright; he also co-scripted with Jordan. Set in NYC, but filmed mostly in Ireland. Premiered the year before its release at the Toronto International Film Festival.

46/100