by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What makes for better horror and suspense than trying to get pregnant? Not much, according to Ilana Glazer and John Lee, and that is why we get Hulu’s latest thriller in the form of False Positive. I was first shown Broad City back in 2017 and I quickly became a fan of not only the show, but of Abbi Jacobson and Glazer as well. Glazer was also the smallest name in the Rough Night ensemble, but certainly stole a lot of the attention. Her high energy and penchant for going all in on any gag made her stand out as a fantastic comedic talent. But could she pull a Jordan Peele and channel that comedic energy into something much darker? Glazer teams up with fellow Broad City alum John Lee to bring to life this crazy ride that will take you places you have never been.
But are these places that you really want to go?
Hop on, strap in, and let us go for a ride! False Positive centers on the trials of Lucy (Glazer), who just wants to be a mother. She is a rising star at her firm and lives a lavish New York life with her husband, Adrian (Justin Theroux), who has a connection with a former teacher, the illustrious Dr. Hindle, played with devilish charm by the one and only Pierce Brosnan. Things seem to be going great! Lucy has three babies ready to go… but then everything starts to take a turn. Glazer and Lee’s script takes the audience on a roller coaster ride of warped reality and gaslighting. Lee can build some great tension, but the narrative rides too wild. It runs off the rails so much to the point where you do not know what is happening, which leads to a lack of stakes and impact. To be honest, the film just becomes too confusing.
But does Lee deliver on the thrills that make this an effective genre experience?
Even though he might lose control of his story and logic, this film is still effective in creating an emotional response. Pawel Pogorzelski follows up his work on Hereditary and Midsommar with incredible photography on False Positive. This A24 horror flick and mixes in shades of American Psycho with its fully realized lavish city of excess. The framing of every shot is impeccable and precise. One shot in a climactic rumble is so striking that it made me want to rewatch that scene immediately. The final moments of the film are so out there with their symbolism and surrealism that they might alienate quite a few audience members. This kind of horror experience is not for everyone’s taste (not even all horror junkies out there).
Can the actors help bring the goods to make this film stand out despite its messy narrative?
Glazer gives a unique performance for herself that is toned down and mature. This is in stark contrast to her Broad City character who is over-the-top and bold at every turn. I will admit… I am not a fan of Theroux. Is he serviceable here? Yes. Would it have worked better with a strong and more dynamic actor? Yes. This is no Cassavetes in Rosemary’s Baby. Then there is Brosnan. Every look is mysterious and creepy, but coming from Brosnan, they somehow feel less so. That is why his cast was so perfect. You even have Eighth Grade supporting star, Josh Hamilton who has some fun in a fun, if not unimportant role. Shotouts to Gretchen Mol and Sabina Gadecki, who play nurses in Hindle’s office. They use great physicality to give us some unnerving and creepy performances. This movie is just so creepy.
Is False Positive filled with enough creepy moments and thrills to overcome its narrative messiness?
That will really come down to how much you care about the story. There are some effective twists along the way (including a striking reveal towards the end), but the story just gets so out of hand. If you are in it to be weirded out and creeped out, this one is a must see for you, because it delivers on that front. Ultimately, False Positive is filled with potential, but ends up being flawed.
Grade: C