Somewhat ironically, one of 'Actress Wanted (2018)' biggest issues is the fact that its acting is sometimes - often, even - subpar, with unnatural line readings that kind of feel like something straight out of a film school production. The issue is especially noticeable whenever the characters speak English, probably due to the simple fact that I can't Vietnamese and therefore don't know if the Vietnamese dialogue is being delivered naturally; I would assume, however, that the problem persists across the entire affair. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a deal breaker. It's something you get used to relatively quickly, and is easy to forgive considering how otherwise interesting the piece is. Always toeing the line between genres, the plot takes an intriguing premise and builds on it in an effective way. It's an enjoyable, engaging experience that unfortunately - despite its best efforts - crescendoes in a predictable, relatively generic way. Still, it's successful as a whole. Though it does feel far more like a first feature than a second, the flick typically pushes past its shortcomings. You want to give it the benefit of the doubt, which makes it more effective in the long run. Overall, it's an entertaining drama/ thriller that deserves more attention than it's currently getting. 7/10.
