Unsane (2018) User Reviews

Divisive Dilemas.

[hitchcockthelegend · 6/10 · 27 March 2019]

Have to be honest, I had no idea this was filmed on an iPhone 7 or that it was directed by Steven Soderbergh. I was stuck for something to watch on cable the other night and I liked the sound of the plot premise. So unburdened by expectation of a searing horror classic I settled in to see what unfolds.

Plot has Claire Foy as Sawyer Valentini who inadvertently commits herself to a mental health institution. Once inside things being to unravel and the threat of her one time stalker now being even close to her opens up the book of terror - but is it real?

Firstly you have to say that the mental health authorities must have had kittens when they saw this, much of what is on screen is utterly ridiculous and paints the system in a damning light. Secondly you really have to jump on board with the improbability of it all, this really is made for dramatic entertainment purpose and not as a viable horror of the real world.

As a thriller it worked for me, the constant question of what is real or not keeps things on the slow burn. Either way, real or not, it's thought provoking enough to warrant staying till pics end. The psychological angle is pungent enough to say there's some thought in the writing, though this is undone by utter nonsense as things spiral into the impossible for the final quarter of film.

Foy is good value up front and the fulcrum of it all, while elsewhere good work comes from Nate Hoffman and it's nice to see Juno Temple in a spicy role. Ultimately this is no blood letting horror picture, and certainly it's no One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Girl Interrupted etc etc.

The iPhone experiment is a gimmick that works here due to the confines of the location for story, but as a genre piece of worth it is unlikely to have legs. However, even though I enjoyed this as a one time only viewing experience, I perfectly understand why it has become divisive. So for those who haven't seen it yet then it is advised you understand this is no terrifying thrill a minute piece. It's tricky to recommend with any sort of confidence, and thus I feel the internet ratings of about 6.5/10 is just about right. 6.5/10

Both unsettling and uneven

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 31 August 2018]

'Unsane' seemed to me like it had real potential to be a good film. It looked intriguing, it was interesting to see how it would fare being shot on an IPhone (though part of me was a little apprehensive, being concerned it would be handled amateurishly), the trailer looked great, like Claire Foy a lot and the idea was for me one of the best and most unique of the year.

On the most part, while the polarising critical reception is more than understandable, 'Unsane' works. It is an uneven film and should have been better than it was with the final third and ending being a let down. On the other hand, much of it was very well done with a terrific first half that showed so much promise. Am going to hold nothing about those who didn't like it, being one who agrees with a few of their criticisms.

Starting with what 'Unsane' does right, it surprisingly looks good. Was worried as to whether the IPhone technique would be done in an amateurish fashion but actually it was atmospheric and surprisingly tasteful, enhancing the already unsettling claustrophobia seen also in the setting. The music is haunting and wisely not constant as well as never intrusive. Soderburgh's direction is deliberate yet tight, letting the atmosphere speak for itself.

The first half is terrific, slow-burning but creepy, subtly suspenseful and sometimes quirky, blurring reality and delusions with plenty of unsettlement, panic, claustrophobia and thoughtful representation of a difficult subject. The cast are on top form, the best thing about 'Unsane' being Claire Foy, mixing fragility, unhinging, sarcasm, insincerity and also sincerity it is a spectacularly good performance of an complicated character that one is scared of but also in a way sympathetic to. It is easy to overlook the rest of the cast, but they are also very good playing against type, Joshua Leonard, Juno Temple and Jay Pharoah do great jobs.

However, it is a shame that the film changes tone in the final third in particular and it is really jarring and the quality is significantly inferior. The film works better as a psychological drama/horror, while it turns thriller, it becomes overblown, rushed and far fetched. The ending is a let down, too easily foreseeable, anti-climactic and far too conventional for a premise as unique as this one.

Some of the dialogue is on the ropy side and Matt Damon's cameo was out of place, unnecessary and just plain weird, reeking of self-indulgence.

Overall, worth seeing. Uneven but with a lot of great merits. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Plenty of Promise, but is ultimately a bit Unsatisfying

[Jared_Andrews · 6/10 · 31 March 2018]

With most of Steven Soderberg's movies, he tells stories in a way that makes viewers unsure of what exactly is going on. Unsane is like that. The title indicates that the main character might be insane but also might not be insane.

Well, it turns out the this movie has an excellent title because that's pretty accurate summation of the movie. A bit longer summation goes like this: the main character might be insane but also might not be insane but some people think she is insane but she makes some erratic choices so she cannot convince everyone that she's not insane but maybe she does that because she actually is insane.

Sawyer Valentini (a strikingly unhinged Claire Foy) seems normal enough at first glance. She works a steady financial analyst job at a bank. She has a loving relationship with her mother. She goes on Tinder dates. But she's troubled by someone from her past, a man who has been stalking her for the past two years. She has difficulty dealing with the stress, so she turns to medication and therapy to cope.

In her conversation with a therapist, she casually mentions that she's had suicidal thoughts in the past. The therapist exploits this casual mention and tricks Sawyer into signing a waiver voluntarily committing herself to 24 hours of observation at the clinic.

Once inside, things become increasingly frustrating for Sawyer and even more so for viewers. She lashes out violently multiple times and ignores the advice of one helpful patient recovering from an opioid addiction, Nate, (Jay Pharoah showing off impressive dramatic acting chops), which subsequently gives the staff reason to extend her stay an additional week. Her inability to control her temper makes viewers wonder if she really does belong there.

That's as much as I can reveal without introducing spoilers. I can say that movie is a bit of a slow burn early on. Then the action picks up in a big way.

The story veers in a different direction, which causes some problems because we miss backstory that would have tied the story together in a neater, more affecting way. As it stands, the movie has a lot going on, but no part feels fully developed. Foy's lead performance and Soderberg's filmmaking keeps the film watchable throughout, but ultimately, it all feels a little unsatisfying.

Highly experimental and inventive but iffy in its execution

[pere-25366 · 6/10 · 1 May 2019]

Steven Soderbergh's 2018 psychological-horror film Unsane (2018), shot entirely with the iPhone in just 10 days, is an interesting take on the genre. Centering around a woman who is involuntarily committed to a mental hospital, we constantly are in a state of questioning whether or not she is really as crazy as we are led to believe. The choice to film it on merely iPhone lends an incredibly unique look and feel to the story, often seeing people from POV shots and bizarre angles. Coupled with the ambient music, the film is incredibly atmospheric and invites you to see things from the perspective of Claire Foy's character. Unsettling, well-acted and uniquely directed but so-so in the execution of the story. Nonetheless, a cool experiment from Soderbergh.

A claustrophobic and stressful experience, but amazing all the same

[GoldenBlunderbuss · 7/10 · 1 August 2018]

A woman is involuntarily sent to a hostile psychiatric ward after admitting suicidal thoughts over a lengthy stalking ordeal, only to (maybe?) see him in the hospital.

The unique selling point of Unsane, widely known by those who've at least heard of it, is that it was entirely shot on an iPhone. Directed by Steven Soderbergh (of Erin Brockovich, Ocean's 11/ 12 & 13, Magic Mike and Logan Lucky fame), Unsane was brought to theatres for a paltry $1.2m budget and makes an impact with every buck.

It follows the trials of an innocent women (played brilliantly by Claire Foy, the best thing in a great film) held against her will in a psychological ward after admitting suicidal thoughts following a prolonged stalking incident, only to find that her creepy admirer may (or may not) have got himself a job in the hospital to be with her. Her ordeal escalates as she tries to convince the nurses and senior hospital staff that she's not safe only to be constantly ignored or disproven with bureaucracy and paperwork. It's infuriating and the most stressed I've been in a cinema in years, but it's brilliant.

The slow, haunting and unnerving music is reminiscent of The Shining, and the setting - a series of small clinical rooms along a series of long, narrow and repetitive corridors - stifles and disorientates the audience. Meanwhile, the camera's tight aspect ratio and muted colour scheme enhances the claustrophobia. All of this, alongside the frustrating bonds of signatures and consent forms (as well as her often-applied physical manacles) lays the building blocks of a tense thriller which kind of loses its way in the final 15 minutes before bringing it back for a satisfying ending.

It speaks greatly and powerfully to the abuse of authority and trust among strangers, the unaccountability of big business and the real-life dangers of gaslighting - an underhanded form of mental abuse in which someone is psychologically manipulated into doubting their own beliefs, memory or sanity. If, like me, you get triggered by stories of false imprisonment, then by watching Unsane you're in real danger of giving yourself an aneurism ... but you'll still get a thrill out of it all the same.

Best Quote: "Your life slips away from you, you know? Changing your phone number and your email becomes normal. Taking out a restraining order, normal. Relocating to another city, normal."

Snatching Mediocrity from the jaws of Intrigue

[littlemankazoo · 6/10 · 5 April 2018]

There's a part of me that absolutely adores it when a filmmaker goes the experimental route and tries something that's never really been done before.

And while this isn't the first time this sort of filming technique has been used for a film, I had to say, I was rather intrigued when I was sitting down for "Unsane", the new film by Steve Soderbergh ('Ocean's Eleven', 'Contagion', 'Magic Mike').

To explain: 'Unsane' was entirely filmed on an iPhone 7 camera in only ten days, which is incredible in that it was made entirely in secrecy by a big name director such as Soderbergh. The budget also barely pokes over $1 million total. By all accounts, this is as INDIE as a big name director can get.

So you probably will start asking yourself: "How does it look?"

To me...I think the film would have been LESS interesting if it was filmed in the typical method of high quality digital cameras. I know I always use the term "nightmarish" to describe claustrophobic cinematography in films, but this film looks like a NIGHTMARE. Fluorescent lighting and angles look warped and distorted, as if our characters are living in a German expressionist film, close ups look terrifying as we see every emotional detail of these characters in sketchy quality that only a phone camera could really capture in full. The whole film looks like a fever dream, and unlike 'Tangerine' (The first feature film to be filmed on an iPhone), this film truly has a "reason" to be filmed in this style.

To me, the experiment Steve Soderbergh tested here WORKED. The cinematography is its own style, and when a film can define itself with that sort of technique, it has certainly succeeded.

Going hand-in-hand with this great cinematography is the surprising performance by Claire Foy, who is admittingly quite good in her role of a person you have to decide if you think is crazy or not crazy. She does have a few slip-ups where you can hear her British accent come out...but other than that, she is a convincing central character and I bought every emotion coming out of her.

So it probably sounds like I really enjoyed this film thus far, correct?

The problem is, I enjoyed the first TWO-THIRDS of this film. After that, I think this film absolutely falls apart and loses everything I thought it had going for it.

A certain sequence in the film that looks absolutely SPECTACULAR is really the last time I connected with the film before a certain plot detail and twist begins to make itself apparent. As it began to unfold, I thought "There's no way they'd go with something THIS stock and basic..."

Unfortunately, they do, and by the time the film is running-down its last 15-20 minutes, my intrigue had been sapped and I was left simply to watch a film that was going through the motions. A crime that films can commit is being "Bad", for sure, but a worse crime a film can commit is being "Boring". The third act of this film is guilty of exactly that. It's stock and went exactly as I predicted it would, which truly hurts.

And let us discuss THE ENDING, which I think may be one of the worst of the last few years, right alongside 'The Devil Inside', 'Skyline' or 'The Florida Project'. The ending is such a sloppy and slapdash piece of cinema that I really wonder WHY they even bothered to shoot it. It's boring, cliche, has yet to really make much sense to me since I saw it (I saw this film on Tuesday, by the way...), it looks TERRIBLE in comparison with the rest of the film, and leaves us on a freeze-frame shot that looked completely unplanned and clearly done as a way to say "Yep! That's the end!". While I could've seen something more developed working in a similar vein, this just felt awful and like a last-ditch effort to end the film in an 'unresolved' manner, which this film never had the course for after its third act. Simply awful.

In the end, I left this film feeling extremely disappointed, really. I was enjoying the film quite a bit up until a certain point, where everything just seemed to fall into the pits of the cliched and been-there-done-that. Perhaps it was partly my fault for expecting more out of a film that promised a unique look and story about sanity, but in the end, I can blame the film as well for squandering such an incredible opportunity to make an interesting psychological thriller/horror film with such a weak third act. It PAINS ME that this film couldn't be good all the way through.

...THAT SAID...I really cannot say enough about the cinematography in this film. Steve Soderbergh's work in this (Yes, he directed AND filmed this!) looks absolutely stellar, even for an iPhone camera, and makes it worth seeing just for curiosity's sake alone. I feel it works far better than it did for 'Tangerine', and clicks with me on a level that it puts you in the perspective of our protagonist, who is struggling with her sanity in a place that is a proverbial nightmare. The film looks like a bad dream, and in the end, that appealed to me on that level of loving to see experimenting in film.

It's just a shame that the intriguing experimentation meant a sacrifice for an intriguing story and third act. This could have been a far better film than it was. In the end, it lands somewhere in the middle for me...though I REALLY wish it didn't...

Soderberg's paranoia experiment is a success.

[pwrelives · 7/10 · 2 February 2019]

Shot completely with IPhone 7plus in 4k, steven soderberg's experimental b-movie is a real, slow and annoying psychological gesture throughout.

Eerie cinematography, unsettling atmosphere and curious characterizations take on U.S Psychiatric institutions deception makes it one of those crazy movies.

A gripping thriller that expertly puts you in the shoes of its protagonist.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 8/10 · 29 March 2018]

While its grammatically-challenged title is just as likely to test your sanity as anything in the film itself (perhaps by design, I'll add), Steven Soderbergh's second return from retirement seeks to 'change the game' and prove that you don't need a proper camera or fancy lighting to make a film, just an iPhone, a decent script, a competent cast and crew and, most importantly, the will, time, money and passion to do it all. Luckily, 'Unsane (2018)' has all that in spades. It could easily pass for something shot on one of those fancy cameras and actually has a tangible and, appropriately, an almost 'followed-around-with-a-camera' stalker vibe to it. It's a wonderfully frustrating, rewardingly claustrophobic and tensely insular experience that sticks you right in the slightly off-kilter head of its protagonist and does a great job of making you feel exactly the way she does at every moment. The pace is almost perfect, as we're dealt a number of blows every time we begin to get comfortable in each new situation, and the slow descent from slightly strange to straight-up sinister is a palpable and uncomfortable one. The fact that the sanity of the hero is called into question is a great move, though it isn't pushed quite as far as it perhaps could have been, and it keeps you unsure about everything you see. The nods back to classic seventies horror, including a soundtrack reminiscent of 'Halloween (1978)', were appreciated as well. I was constantly on the edge of my seat throughout this gripping, agitating, intriguing and generally very entertaining thriller. 8/10

Good movie but don't let it keep you from getting help.

[shaylad2055 · 7/10 · 2 June 2019]

I enjoyed the film it was quite good. The only thing that I didn't like is the portrayal of psyche hospitals. I was in a hospital for a little less than a week for suicidal thoughts and it was NOTHING like this. I still see a counselor and talk about my history with suicidal thoughts and not once was I involuntarily locked up. Please if you or someone you know are needing help DO NOT let this movie scare you away from getting it. Enjoy it for what it is a film and not reality.

As a psychiatrist and a film lover, I was highly disappointed.

[ccamp89 · 3/10 · 1 April 2018]

As someone who works in the mental health field, the first act of this movie excited me. The set up seemed to suggest a film that would attempt to capture the experience of a psychotic individual who finds herself involuntarily committed; to convey the confusion and desperation of such an experience for the patient, and perhaps the callousness of the staff who have become so jaded to such a presentation that they fail to meet the emotional needs of that patient. I felt genuinely uncomfortable through the first 20-30 minutes of the film as this scenario was explored, so much so that it forced me to reflect on my own experiences with psychotic patients and how important it is not to lose that level of empathy regardless of how routine the work may become. Furthermore, I was tantalized by the possibilities of the film in blurring the line between delusion and reality, expecting it to keep me questioning what was real and what wasn't.

And then the film throws all of that into a wood chipper. And burns the wood chips. Unfortunately, from here I'm really going to have to get into specifics, ie spoilers, so,

***SPOILERS***

First, I just have to mention the numerous inaccuracies here in the depiction of an inpatient psychiatric ward. The physical setup of the facility is quite odd with its communal bedroom shared by all of the patients which is locked every night without any staff member being physically present inside. Even more unlikely is that during the day the patients are allowed to wander around the rest of the facility without seemingly any security. I'll concede that I obviously haven't seen every possible inpatient setting design, but this is quite removed from anything I'm familiar with.

More problematic though are the way restraints and seclusions are portrayed in the film. Restraints and forced medication can happen if an agitated patient is unable to be calmed by any other measure and is at imminent risk of harm to themselves or others, but patients are never restrained in a communal room and then left alone for extended periods of time, unmonitored by staff, and no less surrounded by other inpatients who are often psychotic and potentially dangerous. Medication injections are also always given in a muscle rather than in a vein as depicted here, and certainly never in a neck vein. Patients placed in a seclusion room are highly monitored and there are extremely strict regulations on how long a seclusion can last. It can not be used punitively and for indefinite periods of time as portrayed here. Opiate addiction on its own is never an indication for an involuntary psychiatric hospitalization and would never be covered by insurance. Staff members would never be able to secretly move patients to remote areas in a facility and hold them hostage there - everything is video monitored and it is standard for every patient to be physically checked on by nursing staff every 15 minutes.

I could keep going, but I won't. Afterall, this is a movie. Films often can take liberties with reality, though for a film like this that is examining the mental health system and offering commentary on it, the gross inaccuracies are more problematic. Still, I did my best to see these as artistic liberties taken in the service of telling a story, entertaining an audience, and conveying a message. The problem is that the film fails on all of these levels as well.

I mentioned earlier that I was tantalized at the possibilities that the film set up in blurring the line between delusion and reality, and I was completely let down. There is absolutely no ambiguity here, no intrigue, no possible interpretation where the stalker isn't real. And while that's far less interesting to me, it at least could've worked as an entertaining B-movie. But the plot is so offensively absurd that it crumbles even with the most cursory critical analysis. How did this stalker manage to get a job as a nurse at this facility within 24 hours of our protagonist showing up there? Did he kill the real nurse and pose as him? No - because then the nursing staff obviously would recognize him as an imposter in that case. Furthermore, a co-worker specifically comments that he is one of the most dependable nurses they have which obviously indicates he has some history at the job. So then is it a coincidence that our protagonist chose this facility from her random google search and her stalker just happened to have taken a job there prior? Did I miss some explanation for this? Even if I did, it's just incredibly improbable to the point of pure contrivance.

And then our stalker is able to kidnap patients, hold them hostage, torture and kill them, all within a secured and staffed facility where patients would be monitored continuously as I previously mentioned. I had to stifle laughter when he explains to the protagonist, whom he is now indefinitely holding hostage in a seclusion room on a seemingly deserted, unstaffed floor of the hospital (which in itself is ludicrous), that the other staff members just "assumed" that she had been discharged and her insurance coverage had expired. A patient cannot be discharged from a hospital like this without clearance and direct orders from a psychiatrist, who then prepares all of the necessary paperwork, prescriptions, referrals to outpatient providers etc. It is a multidisciplinary process that involves the psychiatrist, nurses, and social workers. It's utterly laughable that the film asks you to believe that a patient would just be "assumed" discharged from a facility like these when none of this process had taken place.

***END OF SPOILERS***

Again, I could keep going but I'd be beating a dead horse. Highly disappointed with this film, and sadly it will likely perpetuate so many of the negative stigmas surrounding psychiatric hospitals. It does have some striking visuals here and there, the lead performance is quite good, and I did enjoy the raw quality of the filmmaking, but this is nowhere near enough to make up for its issues. I couldn't even recommend it to someone who has no knowledge of the mental health world as it totally fails as campy B horror/thriller too with its absurd plot and utter failure to capitalize on the potential for intrigue/ambiguity in the setup. Skip it.

1.5/5

She's not crazy, she's just a little unwell...

[donaldricco · 8/10 · 29 June 2018]

I guess the moral of this story is: be careful what you say in therapy! This is a good movie, even if some of the details are a little shady or generous in their application. Claire Foy gives a strong performance, and there is just enough haziness to make you wonder if she is, or isn't, sane. And she's got a great name:Sawyer Valentini! Good ending too! Terrible, terrible music, but a good, creepy 98 minutes!

Not as expected

[bsamad-50088 · 6/10 · 17 October 2019]

I found this movie when i googled "movies like shutter island" and unsand was suggested to me so i watched the trailer and read the story and i had very different expectations in mind, it's pretty good movie specially that it was filmed with an iphone7 ,but what i had in mind was like a some psychological experience when u don't really know what's happening is real or not , whem i turned out it was normal i just felt disappointed

Mostly good in theory.

[Max_Lucas · 4/10 · 30 May 2018]

Shot on iPhone, I had no idea. Acting, I felt was good. Believable truth about insurance. Being involved in those situations. I can confirm. Once your insurance runs out, BAM, you're cured, and let out. As for the stalker, stupid addition. Yet without it, the movie wouldn't be as good. He had no involvement in her commitment. And he happens to be the pharmacist at the psych ward? Not fired after dispensing a bad cocktail. ( And her for even taking anything her would give her. Didn't even count how many pills?) Video cameras being shut off for long periods of time. A patient gone missing all day and no one noticed? Even shoving a cell phone with a picture of a bloodied missing patient didn't raise any questions. I could go on and on. Couldn't they just spend a little more time fixing the story to be more believable? Again, not a bad movie. Just tired of watching movies that start of being realistic and believable to let's just rush this out the door and get paid. C'mon guys, take the extra step.

JUST OKAY - (6 stars out of 10)

[BJG-Reviews · 6/10 · 6 March 2019]

The stage curtains open ...

To call this movie controversial really wouldn't be accurate ... at least, to me. There are differing views on this film. Was she sane or insane? Well, the movie is called "UNsane" - so, I'll leave that up to you since with most movies of this caliber, it is really up to each individual viewer what they truly believe. And since my reviews are also spoiler free, I won't divulge my personal feelings on the subject. I will, however, give you my honest opinion on the movie itself.

It starts off with our film's main character, Sawyer Valentini, at her job and seeing a bearded man walking through the hallway - a person she believes is stalking her. When she goes to a behavior center and confides in one of the on-staff doctors there about her fear of this man, she is tricked into "voluntarily" admitting herself for a 24-hour observation period when she is asked to sign some standard procedural papers. And, somehow, her stalkers finds his way on to the hospital staff assuming another man's identity in order to pass their background check. This leads to further violent confrontations with staff and patients alike extending her stay - and the film's final climactic end.

This was an "okay" film. It was entirely shot on an iPhone 7+ by director, Steven Soderbergh, for creative choice (as he has stated in interviews) - to give his viewers a stalker's viewpoint. However, despite its low production values, this was an engaging film with decent performances. They were effective in pulling you into the movie from Sawyer's point-of-view, giving you enough tidbits here and there to keep you interested and guessing. There was even a small cameo performance by Matt Damon as a security specialist.

However, I walked away with a rather "ho-hum" reaction to it. Overall, it wasn't bad, but nothing outstanding either. I would say it's worth watching once, but not a keeper and not what I would call re-watchable, unless you get caught up in some of the YouTube videos and other chat sites that discuss the big question ... was she insane the whole time, or was her stalker real? Again ... I will leave that up to you.

Creepy, brilliantly psychological

[gregstowe · 7/10 · 25 October 2020]

The plot is messed up and actually thrilling. The effects when she's drugged are great, the characters are well built. I like that it's not over the top with each major occrance in the plot, like someone important low-key gets murdered but it's subtle, we know it's happened but it's like no biggie but it actually would be in reality. All round trippy and entertaining

ONE TIME WATCH

[akshaygautam5 · 6/10 · 29 January 2019]

Movie is good...at some times it engross you totally , and sometimes irritating..but surely there are wow moments and scenes and especially from the lead actress<She has justified her role and ofcourse this movie will give u chills and if you are physcotic movie fans...

Innovative Cinematography, But the Story/Characters/Dialogue is Lacking

[themovieparadise · 6/10 · 5 April 2018]

Up until I saw it in theaters, I knew Unsane exclusively as the movie that was shot on an iPhone. I knew it was directed by Steven Soderbergh, who's given us such films as Ocean's Eleven and Logan Lucky. However, I knew nothing about the plot or really what kind of genre of film this was. All I knew was that it had been filmed on an iPhone. While that's certainly interesting, and I was definitely curious to see how it would look on the big screen, I couldn't help but think of it exclusively as a gimmick. I sounded like Unsane was saying, "Hey guys, we're the movie that was filmed on an iPhone! Be sure to check us out because that's cool!". That's not a good thing for a movie to do, so that did make me a little hesitant going into the film. However, surprisingly enough, the fact that this movie was filmed on an iPhone actually enhances it, to the point where the same effect could not have been captured on a regular camera. While it does lack a bit in story, and there are some wooden performances and some cheesy dialogue, the camera work done by Soderbergh himself is incredible, especially all the innovative ways he uses the iPhone to shoot a completely unique-looking movie...

Criminally underrated

[michelleseashell-98652 · 8/10 · 3 February 2020]

This is one of those films that really taps into those paranoid fears of authority and asking for help. I am always surprised that this film is relatively unheard of in the uk.

I really like that the main character wasn't exactly a likeable one. I think too often filmmakers try to tug on our sympathetic natures by making the victim a sweet and faultless person. Instead, whilst her stalker may have put her on a pedestal of being this person, she was, by her own admission, not a particularly nice one. Made it so much more interesting.

I only recently found out the entire thing was shot on an iphone, which is very impressive and I had no idea that the stalker was played by the same Joshua Leonard from The Blair Witch Project until after. Not only was he physically unrecognisable, he was also transformed into a totally different human being in his personality and actions. I was surprised to see Matt Damon turn up in a small cameo, but loved the subtlety of it that a lot of Hollywood superstar cameos miss.

All in all, some superb acting from the entire cast, even those in minor roles.

My only slight disappointment was that towards the ending (approximately around the time Violet was brought down to the padded cell) it got a little silly and unbelievable. It did however redeem itself with a great ending, especially the chilling final shot.

Great work everyone involved!

Insane in the Iphone

[filmexperienced · 6/10 · 23 January 2019]

Boasting a committed (ho-ho) performance from Claire Foy, my favourite of hers after not quite connecting with her turns in Breathe or First Man, Unsane does a functional if unspectacular job within its asylum-horror sub-genre. Indeed, some of the most frightening details come from the specifics of how Sawyer Valentini - memorably named - ends up in her predicament, and the unspoken implication that this could be happening to many more people as we speak. Confounding at least my expectations by maintaining a solid grip on reality that similar pictures often struggle to resist - this is reinforced by the cinematography. Shot almost entirely on presumably specially lensed and souped up Iphone 7s, you'd be hard pressed to tell versus standard digital photography, giving a utilitarian beauty. Between Soderbergh's work here and Sean Baker's Tangerine, it gives a tantalising sense that any of us could pick up our phones and make a movie - though we just wouldn't have their experience, eye or creativity. Or maybe I should speak for myself. One final note, Joshua Leonard, admirably creepy, Amy Irving, nicely maternal, and Juno Temple - 100% irritating despite a sterling track record with me (Killer Joe, Kaboom as examples) to this point.

Not a thriller, barely a movie

[veronicafreyvert · 1/10 · 4 April 2018]

I expected this movie to be edgy and interesting; it was neither. The acting was amateurish and the plot was heavy-handed. It was supposed to be psychological thriller in which we are to figure out whether or not the protagonist is insane, but instead we are driven crazy by randomness of the plot. Too many characters are introduced that muddle the focus of the film, and zero get any sort of character development. Not even the main character shows any sort of arc or growth. Was expecting a Shelter Island-esque film--instead I got a movie filmed on an iPhone that seems to have been written by my fourteen year old son.

Different take on a psychological thriller

[Floated2 · 8/10 · 9 January 2019]

Unsane is another psychological thriller by director Steven Soderbergh. 2017 saw the director direct an under seen film in Logan Lucky and this film Unsane was quite a quick turn around.

Unsane is quite different than most current thrillers nowadays (which is a good thing). Having somewhat high expectations going into the film as heard many great things from critics regarding the film, as well as from the performance by lead Claire Foy.

The expectations were met and some more, as this film is very engaging and once the plot kicks in, it becomes entertaining and a thrilling tense ride. Starting with relatively a slow start, the pace becomes better as we see everything unvolving.

A lot of criticism from audiences seem to be the fact that the film was shot on an iPhone 7, though this isn't a problem in the sense some reviewers are making it sound. The film is very much focused, easy to follow and for sure watchable. Save for perhaps the first few scenes, where the quality is noticeable and somewhat amateurish looking, it gets better as the film passes.

Overall, the tension and suspense of Unsane warrants it a viewing. Quite an underrated film, in where this was not a success at the box office, and one thinks this film may be completely forgotten several years from now.

I thought the movie was entertaining. Lots of "OMG" moments

[joelsimmons-83642 · 7/10 · 20 June 2018]

For a low budget movie, it really kept my interest. The acting was really good. There was a lot of situation where it like......"yea right, thats not how this works", but its good for entertainment and progression of the movie. There were certain scenes that were kind of funny........like wow.......did that really just happen? Worth watching.

I did not like it ..

[sjalkarjadottir · 1/10 · 7 June 2018]

This movie features one of "those" protagonists that are annoying, incompetent and keep doing the wrong thing every time. She made me cringe all through the movie for doing everything wrong.

Most of the supporting cast is also rather abysmal with very few being tolerable (mostly because they have little screentime)

The plot is another part to get angry about. It makes no sense! "the room" or any episode of "Teletubbies" is philosophically deeper and more complex than this one.

To sum it up .. i disliked the plot, i hated the acting and i found the camera and overall cinematography quite revolting.

Hmmm, ok film but.....

[johnbutterfield · 6/10 · 29 April 2020]

Claire Foy with the wrong accent and why this?

Allegedly filmed on an iPhone 7, it's trying to be different for the sake of being different!

Good story, seen better from Soderburgh. Still worth a watch tho, but don't expect too much.

For some women this will re-awaken old trauma. For all others this is a superbly crafted thriller. A true nail-biter. Watch at your own risk. Highly recommend.

[mehobulls · 18 January 2021]

This was a classic Hitchcock style story that plays with the audiences' trust, perceptions, and senses. The camera works to disorient and adds to character development. The sickly color palette and florescent lighting is unsettling and makes you feel as uncomfortable as the characters trapped in the various environments. If you enjoy cerebral independent understated films by auteurs, you'll love this. If you want jump scare filled cliche popcorn mainstream movies dumbed down for the masses, you won't understand why this film is so impressive.