Movies with unexpected twists are my favorite type of movies. I went into this one expecting a suspenseful mystery with twists and turns because the intro said so and yeah, it did deliver on the intrigue I expected because the twists had my mouth hanging open for minutes. Directed by Kim Farrant, this Netflix film puts together friendship, betrayal and paranoia against the picturesque yet ominous backdrop of Croatia.
Synopsis
Beth (Leighton Meester) is a new mom who is kind of compelled by her best friend, Kate, to take a break from her routine life. The break was actually much needed so she travels to Croatia for a weekend getaway with Kate (Christina Wolfe). But, what starts as a fun night out quickly takes a dark turn when Beth wakes up with no memory of the night before. It gets worse when she discovers that Kate is missing.
As she retraces their steps by connecting dots, Beth is met with resistance from the local authorities, who seem more interested in blaming her than finding Kate. Desperate for answers as to where her friend could be, she turns to Zain (Ziad Bakri), a kind-hearted cab driver, for help. The deeper Beth digs, the more shocking secrets she uncovers, leading to a dangerous truth that threatens her life.
Review and Rating
First things first, why should a husband smash his wife’s best friend? That part literally threw me into shock.
Well, that aside, one of the strongest aspects of this film is actually its setting. The Croatian coastline, with its sun-soaked beauty and shadowy alleyways had me craving for a weekend away too but one without the drama anyway. Lol. The cinematography on the other hand is brilliant as it effectively captures the unease of being in a foreign place, where the line between friend and foe is constantly shifting.
Leighton does a great job carrying the film, portraying Beth’s growing desperation with sincerity. She makes Beth a relatable protagonist. I mean an ordinary woman caught in an extraordinary nightmare. Ziad Bakri’s performance as Zain also adds depth to the story, offering Beth an unexpected ally in her search for the truth. I was wishing for a love to bloom between him and Beth but it just didn’t happen.
I like that I couldn’t guess my way through this film. It would have spoiled the fun if it was an easy to guess plot. The twists and suspense had me on a chokehold, at some point I even played an unpaid role of a watchdog when Beth was trying to get answers to avoid going to jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Haha. One character I absolutely dislike is Rob, Beth’s estranged husband. I think my dislike for him is out of sentiment but who cares? Matter of fact he wasn’t even a fully developed character. Just some weird, lying ahh cheating husband.
The pacing is mostly steady, the tension occasionally dips, particularly in scenes that rely too heavily on exposition rather than action.
All in all, The Weekend Away is an engaging yet conventional thriller. It is entertaining enough for a casual watch. It doesn’t really reinvent the thriller genre but its beautiful setting, strong lead performance and fast-paced mystery make it worth a look especially if you’re a fan of vacation-gone-wrong thrillers.
Rating? I’ll give it a ⅘
sounds like something I would enjoy. I hate predictable films and series so this is something I am definitely going to check out. I haven't had much to do with Croatian cinema so this could be a good one to see for me.
You really should see it. You may end up loving it too. <3
i've written it down. I'll check it out! Thanks