“『ホース・ガール』（原題:Horse Girl）は2020年に配信されたアメリカ合衆国のドラマ映画である。監督はジェフ・ベイナ、主演はアリソン・ブリーが務めた。”
サラは手芸用品店で働いており、休日は趣味の乗馬を楽しむ生活を送っていた。しかし、そんなサラの幸福な日常はある日を境にして崩れ始めた。その日以来、サラは悪夢に苛まれるようになり、ほどなくして夢遊病の症状が出るに至ったのである。サラの精神状態は悪化の一途を辿り、ついには「自分は祖母のクローンであり、エイリアンに誘拐されたことがある」と主張するようになった。 本作は現実と妄想の区別が徐々につかなくなっていくサラの姿を描き出す作品である。
監督: Jeff Baena
脚本: Jeff Baena / アリソン・ブリー
音楽: Josiah Steinbrick / Jeremy Zuckerman
制作: メル・イズリン / Jeff Baena / アリソン・ブリー
撮影監督: Sean McElwee
I left the screening of “Horse Girl” with a deep dissatisfaction, a film that is an odd misstep from director Jeff Baena (“Life After Beth,” “Joshy”). The first half of the film is awkwardly charming, but then it becomes something completely different in the worst possible way. The goodwill earned from the oddball sensibility of the story is derailed when things go in a completely “WTF?!” direction. This is a dark movie that gets weird for no good reason, and it feels like the project becomes a victim of writers (Baena and Alison Brie) who can’t figure out the ending to their story so they take the weird route. It’s lazy, sloppy, and super disappointing. The goofy and sweet Sarah (Brie) has a quiet and fairly simple life. She spends her days working at a crafts store, her afternoons visiting an equestrian center, and her evenings in from of the t.v. watching her favorite supernatural crime show. When her coworker Joan (Molly Shannon) gives her a DNA testing kit for her birthday, it sparks a curiosity about her family history that leads to a pattern of sleepwalking episodes and disturbing dreams. These visions begin to seep into her daily reality, making the fine line Sarah walks between what’s real and what’s fake even more blurred. Is she a clone? Is it the work of extraterrestrials? Or is her family history of paranoid schizophrenia finally starting to affect her? The mystery aspects of the story are interesting, and Baena treats his characters with tenderness and respect. The film is at its best when it presents as a quirky character study and its worst when it becomes too abstract. It isn’t the serious and depressing plot points that ruin the film, but it’s the outlandish finale that honestly makes no sense whatsoever. The ending feels like a slap in the face to those dealing with mental illness as much as it does to the audience.
Horse Girl is a psychological drama that explores mental health through the character of Sarah, portrayed powerfully by Alison Brie, who also co-wrote the film based on personal experiences. The film presents a surreal and emotionally intense journey filled with confusion, paranoia, and identity crisis, culminating in a cliffhanger ending open to interpretation. With its haunting visuals, strong performances, and bold storytelling, Horse Girl is a compelling watch for viewers who appreciate deep, thought-provoking cinema. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)
