The Assessment

It often feels like we're constantly being assessed, evaluated on everything from our creditworthiness to our work performance to our scholastic achievements. But imagine what it might be like if we were scrutinized on highly personal matters, with intrusive investigations into our most highly intimate concerns. Such is life in director Fleur Fortune's debut feature in a dystopian version of Earth of the future. With the planet devastated by environmental decline, human society has been drastically reorganized into the old world and the new world. The former is a pathetic wasteland where individuals struggle to live out short lives under horrific conditions. The latter, meanwhile, is a sanctuary for the fortunate, with clean air, clean water and a comfortable way of life, but there's a trade-off: Residents must abide by litany of stringent laws, rules and regulations in which they're under constant assessment, including in matters of their so-called private lives, where the risk of being reassigned to the old world looms for even the smallest of violations. This intensive surveillance involves essentially everything, including such basic considerations as the ability to have children, a strictly regulated undertaking for which would-be parents are rigorously evaluated by government-appointed assessors on their qualifications to assume this role. So it is for Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel), a couple looking to become one of the privileged, who are placed under the microscope by their evaluator, Virginia (Alicia Vikander). The assessor takes up residence with the couple for a week to scrutinize their suitability, engaging in rounds of intensive questioning, role playing exercises and other unannounced tests to see if they meet the requisite standards. But are they up to it? The process pushes the limits of the couple's coping abilities, exposes long-hidden secrets and pushes the envelope of their tolerance levels for their circumstances, all in the name (supposedly) of determining whether they would make acceptable parents. And, as the evaluation unfolds, it raises questions about whether the assessment is truly everything it appears to be. This inventive social sci-fi offering raises an array of probing, thoughtful questions, both for the characters, as well as audience members, particularly where matters of personal privacy and societal judgmentalism are concerned. The narrative is purposely designed to keep viewers guessing, placing them squarely in the shoes of the protagonists and nudging them to ask themselves what would they do under conditions like these. It's an approach that generally keeps us hooked as the story plays out, despite some occasional lapses in pacing and a few sequences in which the action feels a little over the top (especially in the role playing segments). But the payoff is ultimately worth it, one that makes us question whether the constant evaluations to which we're subjected in today's society are everything they're allegedly cracked up to be. This German production with dialogue in English is an intriguing examination of what we allow ourselves to be put through to see if we measure up to expectations that ultimately aren't necessarily our own, particularly in matters that fundamentally aren't anyone else's business. Think about that the next time you feel you're being unduly judged, a consideration that's taken on new weight in today's day and age - and that this cautionary tale might be giving us a preview of what could possibly lie ahead.

There's no lack of effort from the onboard actors, nor is there any lapse in commitment from the creators, who have shown enough ambition and drive to go into detail with their futuristic world and its 'dystopian' functioning.

There are noticeable commentaries on parenthood, environment preservation, and the importance of human empathy & connection; the writing is indeed stuffed with pertinent discourses.

However, the subpar direction and a relatively unexciting screenplay (as well as the dull edit) very much negate the intended after-effects of those thoughtful notions. There was absolutely no issue with the resources, the problem rather lies in their applicability and lack of enticement.

Greetings again from the darkness. Authors and filmmakers have long used forecasting the future as the basis for stories. Some have been lighthearted and humorous ("The Jetsons", BACK TO THE FUTURE) and others are more bleak and dystopian (BLADE RUNNER, THE ROAD). The first feature film from director Fleur Fortune (well known for music videos) has some common DNA with the excellent CHILDREN OF MEN (2006) from director Alfonso Cuaron. Written by Neil Garfath Cox, Dave Thomas, and John Donnelly, this story shows us a future where having a kid is a privilege that must be bestowed by the government, rather than free choice.

Mia (Elizabeth Olsen, MARTHA MAY MARLENE, 2011) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel, YESTERDAY, 2019) have built a life and marriage in a desolate area. Mia has a greenhouse where she grows food, and Aaryan has a Virtual Reality room where he experiments with realistic innovations. Both are aiming to improve life of others. They believe that a missing link in their life is a child, and agree to go through the 'assessment' process. When Virginia (Oscar winner Alicia Vikander, THE DANISH GIRL, 2015) arrives, she explains that, as the assessor, her decision is the final word. Mia and Aaryan express that they will be "good parents". Virginia smiles and relays that everyone says that.

The assessment is a seven-day process and calling it bizarre definitely undersells it. At times, Virginia kicks into childlike mode, testing the parental instincts of Mia and Aaryan. It's during these segments where the story gets a bit ridiculous, despite Virginia's explanation that she needs full access to their emotions and reactions (and intimate methods). During a strange dinner party - set up by Virginia - we get discussions of the "old world" existence and the rumors associated with it.

Analysis of the psychology of folks during such times can be quite enlightening, but despite the intriguing concept, the execution leaves us a bit frustrated with the holes and goofy moments. The third act is especially confounding, although we completely understand Mia's quest for answers. Everything circles back to early on when Mia and Aaryan first ask Virginia, "Are we good enough?". We feel their desperation, but once we learn their catchphrase exchange, "I love you. That's right.", we know this isn't headed to unicorns and rainbows.

Opens on March 21, 2025.

The Assessment is a Sci-fi drama Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel as Mia and Aaryan, a couple who want a child in the future are given a 7 day test by an assessor,(Alicia Viklander) who make the test possible and if no slip ups occur a baby will be gifted, but the expected-to-be parents see that this is harder than they expected.

Given strength by strong acting and unique premise, The Assessment is something I didn't really expect plot-wise but I think it was made brilliantly. The film is set in a format of Days 1-7 and each one is as different and engaging as the other. Honestly I was expecting this to reuse sci-fi tropes from the past, but I got to say that this is so original and unexpected I think it was done super well! The way everything connects and what the couple have to do is portrayed so well to the point that this might be what the most likely cause of creating children will be in a effected world of climate change.

Performances do not disappoint, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel were so good they probably could've been on their own with a entirely different plotline and it would have been just as captivating. But Alicia Viklander is also very good and to be honest, she's very good at the whole sci-fi genre and to see her here was a delight. Just everyone involved did their best and I really appreciate that with a film that doesn't really rely on CGI to be as creative as it is.

However, the film is graphic in some places in terms of sex and disturbing interactions from Alica Viklander's character acting like a child in a older woman's body gave me Poor Things vibes. But that doesn't matter really and it's essential to the plot but this is definitely for an older audience and I can definitely imagine this being an easy R or 15/18 in the UK if anyone is interested.

Overall, while some characters don't have much resolved plotlines the ones that do are created and performed so well it's hard to find anything bad about The Assessment. Definitely a one you must go and see when it comes out in mid 2025 I would highly recommend this amazing and creative piece of art when it hits cinemas.

Grade: A+

London Film Festival October 19th.

I was skeptical about watching this movie. I've been on a movie-marathon this summer & this is one of the movies you wouldn't want to miss!

Elizabeth Olsen surprises me every time. I believe she's one of the few actresses who can actually give an astounding performance in almost any genre.

Alicia Vikander, we've missed you. As I was watching 'The assessment', I couldn't help but remember 'Ex machina' where Alicia also starred in and had a similar genre.

I wanted more from this movie. I wanted more tragedy. More twists. More turmoil. This movie did indeed end shockingly. Hoping for a sequel!