Allure [DVD]

Spoilers ahead: A touching and disturbing look inside the head and motivations of a female who is just looking for love, but effectively becomes an abusive kidnapper. Wood's character is lost, but can't communicate or get help, and instead grooms a 16-year old girl to live with her. She obviously needs something psychologically, but she's not averse to manipulation, mind control, anger and effective imprisonment to get her emotional needs met. This terrible behaviour, if she were a man, would lead her to be portrayed as a much less sympathetic character, as just an evil kidnapper. But maybe this is the only way to get such a film made. This may be a good way to start in one way to understand the motivations those who do bad things to others, and perhaps audiences can handle a sympathetic portrayal of a woman in this situation., even if arguably it's too kind a portrayal. I think it could do better with the psychology (relationship with her father was what screwed her up, but there's not enough deeper exploration ). It manages to avoid the worst excesses of mainstream films and black and white moralising, which is refreshing, yet still the ending is a bit.. meh, but it's a worthwhile watch. Definitely trigger warnings for content.

I thought this was a very powerful film. I felt a lot of empathy for Laura and her emotional and behavioural struggles, which stemmed from past abuse. I thought she was a sympathetic character, despite acting in some pretty horrible ways, as you can sense how much inner pain is there, and how much she hates herself afterwards. It was gripping as well as you never knew what she was capable of in a moment of anger. I also saw the attraction and relationship she has with the girl as beautiful, despite the circumstances and her ultimate possessive behaviour, because in a way she is much younger/ more immature than the 16 year old girl she is with, although the girl represents an innocence she herself lost long ago. I thought it was heart-breaking that she was so desperate to keep an almost impossibly pure love alive.This was very well done movie, with an excellent script, direction and performances. And the title 'Allure' works on many levels, which was clever. I found it dramatic, tense, moving, and interesting. Ultimately it's about a damaged woman trying to deal with her relationship to her father, and striving to let go of past abuse - the girl she is with is almost incidental, although does serve to change her life, and I found that quite refreshing.Definitely worth a watch, highly recommended!

I have to say I have given this movie a try as Evan Rachel Wood is a superb actress and she is phenomenal in this, and Julia Sarah Stone also is fantastic to take on such a role. The film is very good but I would be lying if I said I didnt find it disturbing and that it is awkward at times. I would say give it a go but not a movie to specifically set aside to watch as part of a movie night.

Good storyline kept you guessing, brilliant acting of complex characters, picture jumped in one place but minor

Some may find the subject matter disturbing, but I found this to be a very touching drama that humanises psychologically damaged people, evoking compassion instead of condemnation in the viewer (well, maybe not all, judging by one reviewer). Some people don't get what movies like one are attempting to say, preferring instead to wallow in idealised notions of the human experience that aren't real (like typical Hollywood blockbusters).

I've given this a couple of tries but can't engage with it I'm afraid. It is well filmed and Evan Rachel Wood is excellent as usual. I couldn't see the appeal of the Julia Sarah Stone character however, not the actress's fault, probably more the writing, but the character certainly doesn't warrant the level of devotion she is supposed to inspire. Perhaps had that been done better it would have improved the film as a whole. More of a 2.5 stars than 3.

Eva is both victim and abuser in this movie, well worth a watch. many people who have been abused and or in abusive relationships will relate to this movie, excellent storyline. a dysfunctional lesbian love story.

I've been an evan rachael wood fan from down in the valley through true blood and westworld, she throws her soul into this film ,all acting is convincing and the difficult subject matter is tastefully handled.