6/12 ForReel Score | 3/5 Stars

If you ask many cult survivors, they’ll tell you they didn’t intentionally join a cult. Many would say they were in search of love, community, or purpose. In the beginning, feelings of joy and self exploration outshine any otherwise apparent red flags. Slowly the severity of the situation increases until it reaches a boiling point, but by then, the subject is too invested to fully comprehend the direness of the situation. Much of the media surrounding cults focuses on this descent, however, the premise of The Aviary showcases the mindset of two members following their attempt to escape.

The Aviary follows Jillian (Malin Akerman, Watchmen) and Blair (Lorenza Izzo, The Green Inferno) as they journey through the desert after escaping an insidious cult. Throughout their quest to civilization, they are plagued with paranoia, hallucinations, and the inability to distinguish dreams from reality. They become consumed with the idea that the cult leader, Seth (Chris Messina, Sharp Objects), is following them. As supplies begin to dwindle, the women fear if they’ll safely find their way to freedom.

The organization in The Aviary seems to take many cues from the infamous NXIVM cult, which subjected their victims to psychological manipulation, starvation, sexual control, physical torture, and branding. However, The Aviary elevates the stakes even higher when it’s revealed that Seth had begun trials on a new form of hypnosis/mind control that he called synthesis. This experiment scared Jillian, one of the organization’s most devoted members, so greatly that she fled without warning, leading into where this film begins.

Akerman delivers a stand-out performance as Jillian, with delivery that always coincides with her character's psychological state. When fear and anxiety take over, her emotions ebb and flow. Izzo, however, seems less calculated in her performance, often giving the impression that she's overacting. In one scene, she experiences a haunting hallucination, then when questioned about it, she explodes. There is no understanding of her thought process, just abrupt childlike reactions. Her paranoia becomes easier to understand throughout the film, however it doesn’t make up for her tiring performance.

Messina does well in his role as the master manipulator, implementing a more calming and subtle performance. In Seth’s mind, he is a hero, aspiring to achieve earth shattering work by helping discouraged people break through boundaries and reach their highest potential. Because of this, there is a longing for flashbacks to see how truly heinous he is back at the Aviary, as well as the need to see more of Sandrine Holt (from The Expanse) as Delilah. She hardly appears in the film, but she steals every one of her scenes from Izzo.

At times, the story teases grand ideas of psychological manipulation without reaching an imposing level of unbelievability. However there’s a segment of the film that tends to drag on. For the audience to personally experience time at the Aviary would have boosted excitement. The effects of Covid 19 restrictions are apparent in this low-budget thriller that leans on utilizing minimal characters and sets, which takes a toll on the overall experience - so much so that by the time the credits roll, it feels as if something is missing. The 2019 film 1BR has many similar themes to The Aviary, in particular the idea of breaking down one’s psyche to teach them the value of healing and meld them into a more devoted follower. By making a more organic use of its setting, 1BR better demonstrates the ability to generate thrills on a low budget.

Still, the film is a respectable debut feature for co-writer/director duo Chris Cullari and Jennifer Raite. It is apparent they wanted to focus more on the mental anguish of the characters rather than center the attention on the cult itself. Though the film struggles to manage its limited scope, heavy dialogue, and few thrills, The Aviary's greatest assets are enjoyable performances from Akerman and Messina. But as the audience watches them struggle to leave a toxic and dangerous environment, the film itself struggles to make an impact.

MOVIE REVIEW: "The Aviary"; A Humdrum Story of Liberation