By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
There isn't a lot to dissect in the psychological drama
"Electra," directed and co-written by
Hala Matar (TV's "Kaboos"), alongside screenwriters
Paul Sado ("Leo") and
Daryl Wein ("How It Ends"), who also stars in the film.
It's a straightforward story about the price of fame, fractured relationships, creative obsession, and emotional unraveling.
Ambition and greed drive Dylan (Daryl Wein) and his partner-in-crime Lucy (Abigail Cowen, "Heavenly Wickedness," "The Ritual") as they head to Rome, posing as a journalist and photographer. Their target: fading rock star Milo (Jack Farthing, "Islands") and his artist girlfriend Francesca (Maria Bakalova, "The Apprentice"), from whom they hope to steal a coveted unicorn painting along with anything else valuable they can find while at their sprawling villa.
But things don't go as planned. The couple's scheme begins to unravel as emotional entanglements, fragile egos, and artistic delusion take over.
It's a bit of a stretch to believe that even a washed-up rocker like Milo wouldn’t have some kind of handler doing basic background checks on Dylan. Over dinner, when Dylan and Lucy's stories about how they met don't match up, Milo starts to get suspicious, but he's such a mess and so desperate for publicity that he ignores the red flags. All he wants is a glowing profile to revive his image. Francesca isn't much more grounded. Despite Milo's proclamations of love, he's clearly juggling a few side flings that he flaunts without shame and Francesca knows. She's holding on too.
As Dylan blurs the line between con artist and confidant, and Lucy grows increasingly disillusioned, "Electra" drifts into a moody exploration of identity, deception, and the price of chasing hollow dreams.
The performances are solid, but the story unfolds at a sluggish pace. A couple of late twists inject some much-needed spark, but it's not enough to elevate the film.
While "Electra" is rich in style, it struggles to fully connect on an emotional level, leaving its characters--much like its plot--a little underdeveloped.
If you're drawn to moody, art-house dramas with a touch of noir, this one might pique your interest. Overall, "Electra" is a slow burn with the makings of a tense character study but plays it too safe and never fully ignites.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"ELECTRA"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
