Sanctuary

The only reason I viewed this was because I've become sort of fascinated by the films that Christopher Abbott takes on. He is not remotely interested in the norm in his many indie films. I've also been impressed now and then by Margaret Qualley. I have now mentioned the entire cast of this film and for an hour and a half we watch these two strange people go at each other. He is a very rich man who has a kink about being dominated and she is a dominatrix. He wants to end these paid for "get-togethers", but she has other ideas. A lot of this is very unpleasant to view and I almost turned it off, but I'm glad that I didn't as it's an odd film, sort of a clever one, that only really provides some satisfaction because of its very final scene which out of the blue put a big smile on my face. That didn't really make it a very good film, but it did make it more interesting, sort of after the fact.

In a world that makes you feel fragile and brittle, you get your kicks from being ridiculed, belittled, cleaning round the toilet stem, while your taunter does condemn, as they wait for you to conjure, your remittal. It plays out to a strict script but then a tangent, as it seems you've come across a steeper descent, smoke and mirrors might explain, is this for real or just a game, just who's genuinely showing, their lament. All in all it's quite a curious entangle, although dependant on your perspective and angle, the dialogue creates, a connection, of love and hate, where two people force themselves right through the mangle.

During its first hour, i thought it was watchable but definitely not recommendable. I was not convinced about what i was watching. Didn't make much sense. Even acting seemed weird to me. I kept watching it because i found it somewhat interesting.

However, the last 30 minutes were so good that made me realise i had underestimated it. The ending is so good that made the whole movie looks good, retrospectively. Everything now was making sense. Even acting. And i loved the last minute.

Sure it is not the most realistic movie of the world and i couldn't understand well these characters. Their tastes and preferences were too bizarre for me. I don't understand them but i like them. It's important though to understand what exactly is going on here. Some viewers might not get it. It's necessary to listen carefully to what these characters say in the end. It's not that confusing but it demands your attention.

It's not a great movie, not exciting neither ground breaking. So, if you want to watch a good "one location" movie, something like a mixture of dark comedy and psychological drama thriller, you will probably enjoy it. I enjoyed it for sure.

A sensually dominant vibrance paired with a comedically dark spotlight on the societal flaws that we've created for gender roles. Margaret Qualley is an absolute movie star, showcasing a performance with utter confidence in her range and complete control with her emotions. Her chemistry with Christopher Abbott is sharp and timely with a specific whit that is admirable yet terrifying at times with purposeful misdirection. The environment is predominantly stationary, only ever expanding between a couple rooms and a hallway within a hotel, but the pacing remains tense and the score seeps in desperately for a deeply fascinating experience. An ambiguous introduction that is properly complemented by a satisfying conclusion.

Pointifully performative and bitingly funny-- as a rom-com *Sanctuary* is less of a character study and more of an intense single discussion between Christopher Abbott, Danita Battle, and he prying eye of the viewer. This does feel like a more twisted Netflix or Apple TV date night movie and while the cast carries the film, it does so through both the best of times and the worst of times. While the film's opening is gripping and sexy, and the ending emotionally powerful, very little happens between minute 30 and minute 85.

To make matters less convenient, the actors and filmmakers make it painfully obvious in the first 20 minutes that the Dom is in love with Hal and feels the need to demonstrate her value without telling her Sub, "I love you." That would ruin the power dynamic. The result, is a story that feels drawn with a few aimless scenes. I would expect this from a movie with 30 minute long scenes.

Films like this seem to rest in the strength of their cinematography, acting (mostly closeups), and the dramatic tension in the dialogue. Director Zachary Wigon, and writer Micah Bloomberg can relax because of the good acting and editing on display here (many movies do); however *Sanctuary* may have had stronger foundations and really stuck the landing if they didn't.