Review: Rosy

Though it may not initially seem to be the case, the woman-in-captivity drama, Rosy, is actually a dark romantic comedy that observes both how we are all hostages in love and how relationships are transactional at heart.

Rosy (Stacy Martin) is an aspiring actress who has just broken up with her married documentary filmmaker lover, James (Johnny Knoxville, surprisingly effective in a dramatic role), and is soon thereafter kidnapped by Doug (Nat Wolff). When she awakens, she finds herself handcuffed to the bed in a small room with boarded windows and a locked door. Though assured by Doug that he has no intentions of hurting her, he only wants her to get to know him, Rosy is naturally not assuaged. Over time, whether due to Stockholm Syndrome or manipulating Doug's socially awkward nature to her advantage, Rosy begins to develop what appears to be a genuine affection for her captor.

Scenes of her situation with Doug are contrasted with scenes of her relationship with James who, in his own way, has held Rosy hostage to his demands of his circumstances. With Doug, Rosy may be the one in chains but she is very much in control of Doug, whose life has been unmoored since agreeing to stop his grandmother's life support. Part of the fascination with Rosy is the one step forward, ten steps back dynamic as trust is gained, then lost, then gained again between Doug and Rosy. It doesn't wholly offset the inherently problematic and oft-explored premise, but it at least provides a fresh spin on a somewhat familiar story.

Director Jess Manafort dresses the proceedings with a well-curated soundtrack that includes Herbie Hancock's score from Blow-Up and Leslie Gore's "Magic Colours," whilst cinematographer Zack Galler provides the film with a certain romantic noir look. Writer Jess Bond steers the story in darker waters in the film's final third, though this gambit is perhaps to the film's detriment as the pitch becomes so extreme as to be insupportable. Tony Shalhoub contributes a riveting cameo as a doctor whose obliging manner may prove to be his downfall. Wolff is fine if a bit flat and unconvincing. Martin, however, proves that she's capable of more than her usual pretty waif roles, displaying a heretofore unseen level of intensity and grit.

Rosy

Directed by: Jess Manafort

Written by: Jess Bond

Starring: Stacy Martin, Nat Wolff, Johnny Knoxville, Tony Shalhoub, Sky Ferreira, Adam David Thompson, Alex Karpovsky