by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Welcome to Cross-Platform Partners! In honor of a new movie release, I have selected a TV show to watch to pair with the movie. Think of it as a way to get hyped for the new movie, a preview of things to come, a means to tide you over if the movie won’t be released where you live for a little while, or a change of pace if you’ve run out of related movies or sequels.
For December, I picked Sharp Objects to pair with Nightbitch!
HBO has a reputation of partnering with immensely talented individuals who know how to elevate television. Kate Winslet has received this symbiosis with Mildred Pierce and Mare of Easttown. Hugh Jackman and Mark Ruffalo have had their miniseries on the network that have been critically acclaimed.
One actress who had her moment in the sun with HBO is Amy Adams. Nightbitch looks like it will garner her more awards, but HBO snagged one of her strongest performances yet with Sharp Objects.
Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn, Sharp Objects follows Camille Preaker (Adams), a reporter in St. Louis who goes back to her hometown to cover the disappearance of a local child. There, she continues to unpack the trauma of small-town life, particularly at the hands of her socialite mother, Adora (Patricia Clarkson). As the case unfolds, Camille also comes face-to-face with her demons of alcohol, sex, and self-harm.
Adams gives one of the most unnerving and raw performances I’ve ever seen in a TV series. The role of Camille require dedication, which doesn’t seem easy. Her personal and professional life is a mess, yet she cares deeply about writing and solving this case at whatever cost. Local police officers don’t trust Camille because she’s a journalist. However, her connection to the town and the situation involving the disappearance of a local girl gives her some credence. Some of the topics, particularly involving sex and self-harm, are among some of the most honest depictions I’ve seen on a TV show in a long time, and Adams is incredible. She made me uncomfortable, emphatic, and frustrated throughout the whole series. Sometimes you root for her, but often, you are banging your head against the wall, wondering how someone can make such mind-boggling decisions on Earth.
Adams shines in Sharp Objects, but Clarkson is equally terrifying. Adora is horrible, but she’s a genuinely awful mother to Camille and her half-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen). Clarkson brings such Southern charm, but she’s truly ruthless. Everything you think a loving mother could be is the antithesis of what Adora is to her children. Whether she is gallivanting around town or at home interacting with either of her children, Adora has everyone who doesn’t know her that well eating out of her palm. She couldn’t have been played by anyone better than Clarkson.
Plot-wise, Sharp Objects is a grizzly look at small-town life, and how all the institutions failed this particular child. Wind Gap, Missouri operates exactly how you’d expect a small town to. Everyone knows each other. The cops look away at wealthy and elite members of society, and are skeptical of outside individuals coming to town. The town feels like a character in the series, a testament to how toxic it is, and how much it affects the characters in the story. Having this particular crime, the disappearance of Natalie Keene (Jessica Treska) at the center tells the audience a lot about the city’s care of younger individuals. This is the second disappearance that is being investigated, and the police can’t be held accountable for what they did or didn’t do to help solve the case.
Two different characters lead the investigation. First is the local sheriff, Bill Vickery (Matt Craven), who is well-connected with the older members of the town, but struggles a lot with several of the younger members of the city. His relationship with Adora is problematic, as she is never thought of as a toxic individual until it’s potentially too late. On the flip side, you have Richard Willis (Chris Messina), a detective from out of town who is sent to support the investigations when they’ve stalled. Richard doesn’t understand the dynamics of the city, but can look at the investigation objectively to have an honest look at the evidence.
Several town members are featured in Sharp Objects, from witnesses, to suspects, to onlookers who want to solve the case. The most interesting members of the town are Amma and John Keene (Taylor John Smith), Natalie’s brother. Amma in particular represents a generational shift between the charm of the small town and a group of children who want something beyond what is expected of them if staying in town is the option. Being Camille’s half-sister comes with strings attached, particularly among other town members. However, Camille often gets the brunt of everything from the city, and John emerges as a top suspect. He’s a sensitive guy who doesn’t fit in with others around town. Despite that, John takes his time and patiently proves his innocence.
One of the most visceral parts of Sharp Objects involves a flashback where Camille is institutionalized with a fellow self-harming patient, Alice (Sydney Sweeney). We see how Camille can be a caring individual who knows how to be nurturing and loving in ways her mother never was to her. However, this scene also is among one of the toughest to watch, because we see how this situation affects her mental state. When this hospital is trying to help, a tragedy occurs, and we see Adams and Sweeney doing some of the best acting of their careers.
The ending of Sharp Objects resolves the case, which is not what I expected. Once what happened to Natalie is revealed, I felt the kind of gut punch I don’t often feel when watching crime shows. It is such a graphic reveal, and everything clicks into place — it might require another rewatch, despite how tough of a watch this series is already. Once Camille figures it out, we also have a tough stinger to watch during the final episode’s credit. Credit to Flynn and the series’ writers for making such a spectacular ending.
Sharp Objects is a stark reminder of the power that HBO once wielded as the top-notch creator of television. It’s been a long time since they’ve had a good miniseries, with everything from the writing to the performances firing on all cylinders. Adams is electric, and there are standout performances from Clarkson, Scanlen, and Sweeney. If you love crime series but are also looking for something that will stick with you long, Sharp Objects is a great option.
You can read more from Mike Hilty, and follow him on Instagram, Letterboxd, and Serializd