RalphRahal
4.0/10Feb 13, 2025
Perfect Stranger is one of those movies that tries to be a slick psychological thriller but ends up feeling like a mess of half-baked ideas. The plot starts off with potential, setting up an intriguing mystery, but the execution is all over the place. Instead of building suspense naturally, it throws in forced twists and unnecessary subplots that make the story feel scattered rather than engaging. The script is weak, with awkward dialogue and unnatural character interactions that make it hard to take seriously. The directing and cinematography choices don’t help either. The framing is weird, with tight close-ups that often cut off the tops of actors' heads, making the whole thing visually frustrating. The performances feel underwhelming, especially Bruce Willis, who seems uninterested in the role. Even Halle Berry, who is usually solid, struggles with the material. The film tries to create tension through its score and sound design, but it never really lands. Instead of enhancing the atmosphere, it just highlights how flat everything feels. Overall, Perfect Stranger feels more like a wasted opportunity than a gripping thriller.
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