In this current political climate, its hard to imagine that things could get even scarier. But sometimes fiction puts a mirror to reality and will make you stop and think about just what extremes could happen if a political movement takes hold to the nation, and just how dark it can get. Anniversary is political thriller that is now in theaters, and will make you stop and reflect on the world around you right now and what has happened when other political extremist took hold in the past.
While the movie starts out pretty tame, with Josh (Dylan O’Brien) bringing his girlfriend Liz (Phoebe Dynevor) home to meet his parents at their wedding anniversary party. But it quickly starts going off the rails when you find out that Liz was a former student of his mother Ellen’s (Diane Lane) who was removed from her college for extremist views. And while the two women are forced to be cordial at the event, his mother doesn’t like that Liz has tried to find a way into her family and her life.
That seems like it would be enough drama to kick off a good movie, but Anniversary is just getting started. Liz has written a book about her political ideas called The Change, which has kickstarted a movement throughout the country for political extremism. The country around them quickly begins to change and Ellen is trying to do everything she can to make sure her family survives and is intact. The movie pushes the boundaries of family structure, civilities and puts a mirror to extremism.
Anniversary is chilling at times as it highlights how quickly things can change. How different points of views can change the fabric of the relationships you have and bring to light the differences in people’s convictions and moralities. It is a modern look at how things could easily fall into fascism and the rise to power like happened in Germany in the 1930’s. It doesn’t hold back when it shows what is at stake and what could be lost along the way. At no point does the movie make excuses or justify the extremism. Instead, it seems to be a very clear warning for audience members showing how well art can mimic reality, even if we don’t feel like it is as bad as the movie currently.
It’s not an easy watch, but Anniversary is thought provoking and something to watch if you like political thrillers. It is currently playing in theaters nationwide.
Overall Rating
About Anniversary
A provocative thriller about a very close-knit family that is torn apart as a new movement called “The Change” envelops the country.