The movie Innocence has been billed as a “young adult adventure fantasy horror mystery thriller romance.” Let’s check it out.
The Story
After sixteen-year-old Beckett’s mom dies in a surfing accident, she and her father move to the city. She enrolls at an exclusive prep school, finds a cutie-patootie skateboarding boyfriend and, oh yeah, discovers that the school is run by a coven of immortal women drinking the blood of virgins!
The Trailer
Innocence was in the works for over three years. At one time Julianne Moore and Abigail Breslin were headlining the cast, and then Chloe Sevigny was attached to the project. For whatever undisclosed reason, all of those plans fell through. The character Beckett was finally passed down to newcomer Sophie Curtis. I had the pleasure of interviewing Sophie about her first lead role.
A: Describe Innocence in five words.
S: Raw, Fantastical, Mysterious, Relatable, Exciting
A: It was never really explained whether Kelly Reilly’s character, Pamela Hamilton, and the ‘Book Club’ were witches, vampires or both. What do you think?
S: They are Lamia, a mix of some sort-women who feed off virgin blood to stay young.
A: Tobey, played by Graham Phillips, and Beckett share some very cute on-screen skateboarding sessions. Did you really learn to ollie?
S: Haha yes Tobey and Beckett do, I think what is unique about them is they act like real teenagers. And yes I did, and I also fell a lot doing so.
A: Speaking of Tobey, was this your first on-screen kiss?
S: Yes he was my first on-screen kiss, and I’m pretty sure it was the first day we met too!
A: We love to hear about behind-the-scenes action at That’s Normal. Were there any pranksters on set?
S: I think Daniel Zovatto, who played Hirsch was probably the prankster on set. I think from just watching the film and the whole ketchup scene you can kind of pick up that vibe. He’s very funny and cool. Some of my favorite little scenes to film was riding on the subway with Jen (Sarah Sutherland) because we only had one chance to film that scene so the whole thing was super exciting and we were just running through the subway with camera men following us, I felt my age.
A: I’ve read your favorite horror movies are Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Frankenstein. What is your favorite movie of any genre?
S: I love all Stanley Kubrick films, he’s my favorite. I also love Winona Ryder who is in Bram Stoker’s Dracula so two of my other favorites that she’s in are Girl, Interrupted and the Heathers.
A: You’re a student at UC Berkeley majoring in film and psychology. That’s an interesting mix. What made you choose those particular subjects?
S: Shakespeare and Chekhov were the first psychologists I knew. Their characters confront the questions that excite me most, and their writing unravels the relationship between mind and behavior, self and society: why do two people react so differently to the same circumstances? What can someone’s words reveal about his or her thoughts? Where is the line between memory and imagination, between belief and delusion? In theatre and film, I’ve met this mystery in the space that separates characters’ lines and actions, and my fascination with these questions has also led me to explore individual and social constructions of reality. In college, I want to weave together my artistic, historical, scientific and societal explorations—to investigate the weirdness and wonder of being human.
I want to experience the magnitude of things in life; I want to see how far I can go, within myself and in the world. And I encourage all young girls like me to reach for that to, because they’ll find out just like I did, that you are the only thing standing in your way of making your dreams a reality.
Final Thoughts
Young Adult on a scale of 1 to Katniss Everdeen finally deciding she’s Team Peeta
8 → Yes, this film is definitely about a young girl becoming a woman. First boyfriends, belly rings and teen angst are applied liberally.
Adventure/Fantasy on a scale of 1 to Edward Cullen applying sparkle body lotion
5 → For most of the movie the women were simply unsettling, but then we glimpse some next level freaky glowing eyes. It just gets weirder from there.
Horror/Thriller/Mystery on a scale of 1 to Alfred Hitchcock shopping for shower accessories
4 → The film definitely had an aura of spookiness, but never jolted me out of my seat or took me by surprise. The use of chiaroscuro lighting throughout the film was a nice touch from Director/Writer Hilary Brougher.
Kelly Reilly (Sherlock Holmes) plays the standout character Nurse Hamilton. Nurse H is a gorgeous woman, avid “book” club member, known cougar, and overall spine-chilling individual. One of the creepiest plot lines of the film is how easily Nurse Hamilton attaches herself to Beckett’s grieving father. One minute she’s stopping by to check up on a student and then BAM!
Surfing mom barely cold in her grave…
Overall, this movie felt much like its protagonist … struggling to find its place in the world. It wasn’t quite horrifying enough to be called horror and it wasn’t sweet enough to be called YA romance. The magical elements, however, may intrigue fans of shows like Witches of East End. Kelly Reilly fans will also adore this movie, as she creates a truly scary villainess. That lady got some wicked side eye.
Innocence movie opens in limited theatres September 5.
