Turn Me On

Under the control of a pill that eradicates human emotion, a young couple skip doses and discover new feelings, but realize that comes with emotional baggage to deal with.

I found this film to be a bit like Lord of the Flies: a case could be made easily to prove it is utopian, as well as dystopian. I guess the idea is that utopia exists by ensuring 'vitamin' taking by everyone takes away all of the emotions that lead us to be 'not content', therefore making our lives great.

But as Joy (Bel Powley) finds out, not taking the so called vitamin -in reality some kind of SSR drug- can actually lead to feelings and enjoyment and excitement and love, all the things that we enjoy about being human.

So the conundrum is, take the pill and be forever content without ever really knowing or experiencing anything? Or don't take the pill and enjoy all that life has, but including the bad bits.

Sadly it does not offer that much in terms of thought provocation and most of what it does offer has been done very ably many times in the past.

It's a great part for Bel Powley, not so much for the rest of the cast. Production was pretty average as was directing, putting this firmly into B movie territory except for Powley's performance which is always A list.

I gave it a 5 but it's not a film I'd ever bother watching again.

Grant it's not original ( I can think of several similar forebears going back to the 70's , at least ) . As a starting point , anything with Bel Powley as a member of the cast , it has my immediate interest . Those eyes are mesmerising and she uses them to good effect here . Loved the Pythonesque scene cuts when the couple " discover each other " ( with the hilarious classical music for added effect ) . As another reviewer has correctly pointed out , this needs investment to get past the bland , one dimensional opening acts , but it's worth it . Think of TV's Severance , but without the steroids .

What if we could forever shield ourselves from any discomfort or unhappiness? This film explores a supposedly utopian community where all the inhabitants are prescribed a daily dose of contentment. Their's is a world without anxiety, sadness or boredom. It is also a world devoid of passion, pleasure and love. That is, until one resident skips a dose and discovers all that is missing putting in motions series of events that can't be undone. Watching the performances of the talented cast, we can't help but wonder about our own quests for contentment. Would you give up all of the highs to avoid all of the lows?

I thought it was okayish at first, but then when I started writing this review, I considered few additional things and I must say it actually exceeds what I initially thought about it.

It has a mystery, it explores important social topics, it makes assumptions about human future and our possibilities.

Everyone probably imagined at least once how they could leave their life behind and just emerge in another place.

But why would people want to always feel content?! Honestly, even uneducated or silly people know that life is a rollercoaster and you can't really experience joy without knowing what sadness is.

I think nature in its most basic wisdom will prevent humanity from going down this portrayed way, instead of getting rid of these things we all should just learn to handle them better.

Many people nowadays abuse anxiety drugs, tranquilizers - they basically give this same effect - make people content, but I really don't think it's good for you unless it's a targeted medical attack on a psychological problem person has.

Initially I was disappointed in the ending, I thought it was abrupt and lazy. But then I thought about what was said earlier in the movie and what actually happened.

This is a spoiler-free review, so I will not give away the details, but I think now that this ending is quite much smarter, that I expected.

What makes that movie worth to watch? Showing how important is to feel.

If you know "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" you know, that showing emotions was the essential for human race. That's make us so unique.

But if there's a pill that could erase fear, anger, anxiety? No worries about future, no sorrow or loneliness?

In this movie he have community, where nothing like that is existing, but something is lacking... After the main character learn that she can't take a "vitamin" for one day, she discover that feelings makes her to see world in different colours.

But she could be "removed" from that cohort as a punishment. And her neighbours learn that sex and pleasure could complicate their simple life... That movie is not for everyone. Definitely not for people who are looking for a light movie for an evening together.

But if you liked "The Lobster" with Colin Farrell, you probably like this one too :)