Piercing, 2019

Directed by Nicolas Pesce, whose 2016 film The Eyes of My Mother scarred us terribly with its intensity, is back with a new film this year starring Christopher Abbott and Mia Wasikowska. Piercing is the story of Reed, a man who is meticulously planning the perfect murder. However, things don’t go as planned when his victim turns out to be extremely unconventional. Unlike the straight, serious horror of The Eyes of My Mother, Piercing takes the dark-comedy route, but trends more sinister than it does comedic. Pesce’s visual style here is the strongest aspect of the film. There are beautiful city miniatures, stylized flashbacks, creature effects, and gore. These elements come together to create a really unique viewing experience. That being said, although the characters are at times very interesting for their choices, the overall story feels hollow and undeserving of its nastiness. I can’t recommend Piercing to everyone, but if you enjoyed Pesce’s last film and you’re okay with films that are a little more style than substance, you may find this one intriguing.