Shirley (2020)
A horrifyingly terrific look at the role of women in society.
I knew nothing about Shirley other than the haunting and fascinating image of Elisabeth Moss on the movie poster. And the poster was a spot-on representation of the film itself. I was absolutely mesmerized from the first moment. The camera work and the creative and haunting score blended together to keep me interested in everything that was happening on screen. Every creative choice enhanced the unfurling of the complex characters before us. By the end of the film, I had a completely different view of each character, understanding more of their depth, pain, and vices.
Shirley Jackson (Elisabeth Moss), the reclusive horror writer is introduced to us with an absolute air of intrigue. She is clearly a brilliant writer who has made an impact in the lives of her readers, yet she was misunderstood by those around her. Throughout the film, we see her absolute cruelty toward others begin to soften as we take a closer look at this ominous author of horror and mysteries. We see the horrible way that her husband treats her at times and how she is constantly pushing herself to create something new, exciting, and unique. I like to think that her drive for creative genius is because she wants to produce something that will push the medium forward. she wants to wow and awe those who read their stories and share intimate truths about the world…
