SIFF 2023 | Movie Review: "This Closeness"; Too Close For Comfort In All The Right Ways
8/12 ForReel Score | 3.5/5 Stars
The Closeness takes place almost entirely in an apartment with just a few characters. By limiting the setting and the number of characters, the film is able to capitalize on two feelings with this story: discomfort and intimacy. Yes, they are somewhat opposite notions, but the story at hand relies on both being prominent components of the narrative, and that is where This Closeness succeeds most as a film.
Image courtesy of SIFF
When Ben (Zane Pais) and Tessa (Kit Zauhar) check in to their shared living arrangement for a trip to Ben’s high school reunion event, their stay becomes increasingly odd and uncomfortable as concerns about home-sharing host, Adam (Ian Edlund), arise. All the while, cracks in their own relationship begin to show as a series of events muddies what intentions each character has within this confined space.
The film gets a lot of mileage out of its suspenseful premise. But This Closeness is a film that's more about the journey than it is the destination. The majority of the film is avid about building anxiety, mistrust, and to a certain degree, paranoia. But the payoff for the film rests in an assured sense of slice-of-life storytelling, where it's the exploration of these characters’ psychological states that derives the entertainment rather than the promise of an inciting event or unexpected twist.
It is this odd toggle between discomfort and intimacy that sets this story apart as a noteworthy production. In her sophomore directorial feature, Kit Zauhar leverages the nature of relationships and shared living arrangements to initiate the foundations of the film’s conflicts. But then, she injects additional components - a female friend that Ben seems a little too casual with, or an ASMR hobby that plays an interesting role in the story - to ratchet up the stakes for these characters.
This Closeness is an arresting feature, even if it’s ultimately not as thrilling or devious as the tone of the film might imply. But the film makes the most of what it has to offer, conjuring mystery and suspense into a story that’s worthy of conversation after the credits roll.
Acting/Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 1 | Entertainment Value - 1 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 1 | Reviewer’s Preference - 1 | What does this mean?