Luckiest Girl Alive: Mila Kunis shines in a harrowing psychological thriller

The opening shot of Luckiest Girl Alive lingers on Mila Kunis’s face, her smile pristine, her eyes hollow—a perfect encapsulation of the film’s central tension. Ani FaNelli, a woman who has meticulously reconstructed her life after unspeakable trauma, is a character who demands a performer of Kunis’ caliber, and in this regard, the film delivers.

Mike Barker’s adaptation of Jessica Knoll’s novel is a punishing thriller that leans heavily into its source material’s darkest themes: gang rape, school shootings, and the cruel specter of victim-blaming. The film’s structure mirrors Ani’s fractured psyche, jumping between her present-day life as an editor at The Women’s Magazine and her harrowing past in suburban Connecticut. Kunis anchors the film with a performance that is both controlled and volatile, embodying Ani’s desperation to maintain her carefully curated facade.

The film’s strongest moments come when it focuses on Ani’s internal struggle. A scene where she recounts her rape to a therapist, her voice trembling as she relives the trauma, is devastatingly raw. Kunis’ ability to convey both vulnerability and steel makes these sequences resonate. The supporting cast, particularly Chiara Aurelia as young Ani and Scoot McNairy as her manipulative boyfriend Andrew Larson, add depth to the story. Finn Wittrock, as Ani’s fiancé Luke Harrison, provides a steady counterpoint, his performance underscoring the film’s exploration of toxic relationships and the pressure to conform to societal expectations.

However, Luckiest Girl Alive stumbles when it tries to balance its thriller elements with its dramatic ones. The mystery surrounding a school shooting feels tacked on, a narrative device that distracts from the film’s more compelling exploration of trauma and identity. The pacing is uneven, with some sequences dragging while others feel rushed. Additionally, the film’s use of flashbacks can be jarring, disrupting the momentum at crucial moments.

The cinematography, by John De Borman, is sleek but unremarkable, favoring tight close-ups that emphasize Ani’s isolation. The score effectively underscores the tension but lacks the emotional nuance needed to fully immerse the audience in Ani’s world. The film’s production design, while polished, often feels detached from the emotional weight of the story, creating a disconnect between the visuals and the narrative.

Thematically, Luckiest Girl Alive is a film that asks important questions about survival, identity, and the cost of reinvention. It explores the ways in which trauma shapes our lives and the lengths we go to escape it. The film’s unflinching portrayal of victim-blaming and the societal pressure to present a perfect facade is timely and relevant, making it a story worth telling.

However, the film’s execution falls short of its ambitions. The thriller elements feel forced, and the mystery surrounding the school shooting adds little to the overall narrative. The film’s exploration of trauma and identity is compelling, but the uneven pacing and jarring transitions between past and present undermine its impact.

In comparison to other films in the genre, Luckiest Girl Alive lacks the tight storytelling and emotional depth of Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. While Mila Kunis’ performance is a standout, the film’s structural issues and uneven pacing prevent it from reaching the same level of excellence.

Ultimately, Luckiest Girl Alive is a film that will resonate with viewers who appreciate raw, unflinching portrayals of trauma and the complexities of human resilience. It is a film for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with a strong emotional core, and it will particularly appeal to audiences interested in stories about female empowerment and the aftermath of sexual violence.

The film’s exploration of victim-blaming and the societal pressure to present a perfect facade is timely and relevant, making it a story worth telling. However, its execution falls short of its ambitions, with uneven pacing and jarring transitions between past and present undermining its impact. While Mila Kunis’ performance is a standout, the film’s structural issues prevent it from reaching the same level of excellence as other films in the genre.

For those who enjoy psychological thrillers with a strong emotional core, Luckiest Girl Alive offers a compelling exploration of trauma and identity.