50/19
In the near future where parenting is strictly controlled, a couple’s seven-day assessment of their right to have a child turns into a psychological nightmare. There are 2 easter eggs from Rice University. The Assessment is a sci-fi drama starring Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel as Mia and Aaryan, a couple who want to have a child in the future, are given a 7-day assessment by an assessor (Alicia Viklander) who allows the test and if there are no mishaps, the child will be gifted, but the parents-to-be find that it is more difficult than they expected. With strong acting and a unique premise, The Assessment is something I really did not expect in terms of the plot, but I think it was done brilliantly. The film takes place in a format of days 1-7, and each one is as different and engaging as the last. Honestly, I expected it to use sci-fi tropes from the past, but I have to admit that it is so original and unexpected that I think it was done super well! The way everything comes together and what the pair have to do is presented so well that it could be the most likely cause of children being created in a world plagued by climate change. The performances don’t disappoint, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel were so good that they could probably have been on their own with a completely different plot and it would have been just as gripping. But Alicia Viklander is also very good and honestly she’s very good in the whole sci-fi genre and seeing her here was a delight. Everyone involved just did their best and I really appreciated that for a film that doesn’t rely on CGI to be so creative. However, the film is graphic in places with the sex and the disturbing interactions of Alicia Viklander’s character acting like a child in an older woman’s body gave me a Poor Things vibe. But that’s not really important and is essential to the plot but it’s definitely for an older audience and I definitely imagine it would be an easy R or 15/18 in the UK if anyone is interested. Overall, while some of the characters don’t have many resolved plot lines, the ones that do are so well-written and acted that it’s hard to find fault with The Assessment. You should definitely go and see it when it comes out in mid-2025. I highly recommend this incredible and creative work of art when it hits theaters. Grade: A+ London Film Festival October 19th.