Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
Starring: Kate Hudson, Jeong Jong-seo, Craig Robinson, Evan Whitten, Ed Skrein

Runtime: 106 mins. Reviewed in Oct 2022
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Strong violence and coarse language

A girl with unusual powers escapes from a mental asylum and tries to make it on her own in New Orleans.

The title sounds like one of those old-fashioned horror/dramas of the past. B-film title. And, that maybe the best way to appreciate this film. It is set in the underside of New Orleans, the world of clubs, strippers, money, violence.

But that does not quite do it justice. In fact, it opens in quite a different mood. The old theme song, Oscar-winner from the 1950s film After Midnight, begins to play – and recurs throughout the film, a speculation on da Vinci’s famous painting and the enigmatic Mona Lisa smile. But, the Mona Lisa of this film smiles rarely. She is interned in a mental institution and has been for many years. She is potentially violent and constrained by a straitjacket. We see her taunted by a manicurist who gets her comeuppance from Mona Lisa who escapes the institution, wearing the straitjacket.

The police have been notified but she escapes capture, although her stealing from shops brings unwanted attention. However, she is rescued by a stranger who hangs around the area (Skrein).

But, the key thing is – and whether this is caused by the full moon, the blood moon, is not quite explained – is that she has psychic influence over those she wants to harm, with the victims imitating her and inflicting violence on themselves. This is particularly the case with Officer Harold (Robinson), whom she forces to shoot himself in the leg. Recovering, he makes it his aim to track her down.

In the meantime, a tough stripper Bonnie Hunt (a surprising Hudson), is involved in a brawl but is rescued by Mona Lisa. The tone of the film changes somewhat with a plunge into the strip clubs and many of the obnoxious customers. Bonnie decides to use Mona Lisa’s power to get them to empty their wallets (which will have some harsh consequences later for Bonnie). And, what better than to stand by bank outlets and control customers to hand over $500 each. (Forgetting they are under camera surveillance.)

The human element comes into the tale with the revelation that Bonnie has a 10-year-old son, Charlie (Whitten, quite persuasive). His mother is harsh with him and he reacts badly. He is certainly hostile to Mona Lisa coming into the house – but, she is curious about his angry dancing, joins him in the dance and they become friends.

If this sounds intriguing, there are several plot developments for further intrigue, especially Charlie and his helping Mona Lisa but his having to make final decisions to help her.