Love Lies Bleeding: A much darker version of Drive-Away Dolls, the comedy is sparse and understated in this Neo-Noir Lesbian Romance. Jackie (Katy O'Brian) arrives in Crater New Mexico, she's a bodybuilder, intent on winning a competition in Las Vegas as she drifts from town to town. She soon catches the eye of gym manager Louise (Kristen Stewart). They hit it off after Jackie has a run in with a local bully. Things could be good for both of them except that Jackie has already gotten a job as a waitress at Lou's (Ed Harris) bar and shooting range. Lou is Louise's estranged father who is the local organised crime boss, a big fish in a small town. A further complication is JJ (Dave Franco), Louise's brother in law and lieutenant to Lou. He is also violent towards his wife, something Lou let's slide. But that's not enough, there's also Daisy (Anna Baryshnikov), Louise's ex who can be manipulative and demanding. There are three femmes fatale in this story. Extreme scenes of violence define this film as both Louise and Jackie reveal hidden strengths and psychoses. At times Jackie appears like an avenging angel, Wonder Woman and/or The She Hulk whilst the cooler killer Louise has deeper plans. Will they be a match for Lou who is the very embodiment of evil in a chilling performance by Ed Harris? Oh, there's also a couple of FBI agents sniffing around. All of thus occurs in the Autumn of 1989 as the Berlin Wall falls on TV in the background, local power structures crumble in Crater. Stewart, O'Brian and Baryshnikov are convincing in their different ways as a dangerous menage a trois. Directed by Rose Glass, screenplay by Glass and Weronika Tofilska. 8/10.
Review of Love Lies Bleeding
