FANTASTIC FEST 2023 - "YOU'RE NOT ME"
It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year for genre festival fans, and MACABRE DAILY is your source for Fantastic Fest 2023 coverage! This year, a ghastly selection of our staff have been invited to participate in a series of virtual screenings premiering at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX. This year’s selection of films ranges from the darkly comic to the dreadfully dire and all things fantastic in between. Check out the review below for You’re Not Me!
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Aitana returns home for Christmas, the first time after three years, to find that her parents have replaced her with an unknown woman who is being treated like their daughter. She discovers a disturbing and bloody truth.
HOW IS IT?
The use of metaphors in horror films can be a double-edged sword. One could argue that providing too much subtext in a horror film gets in the way of the escapist experience so many seek, while you could also say that horror is the perfect mechanism for metaphor as it allows a deeper reading of material that is often discounted as being “lesser than”. There is no “right” answer, and “You’re Not Me” is very much in the metaphorical horror camp with notes on classism, racism, and even homophobia. “You’re Not Me” carries a lot of baggage in its narrative and messaging, and that is both beneficial and burdensome.
Aitana and her family just don’t get along. Somewhat estranged, she surprises them for the holidays with her partner and their newly adopted son. What should normally be a warm welcome is actually met with the exact opposite as Aitana and her family arrive a few days earlier than expected. Aitana soon meets Nadia, a woman whom her family took off the street and who has been helping her disabled brother while she is staying with them. They treat her like their daughter, and treat their actual daughter, Aitana, like a stranger. Without going much further in the plot, the main focus here is around the paranoia that Aitana’s family is replacing her on account of one of the many reasons she thinks they exclude her. Is it because she is gay? Or perhaps because she is with someone who doesn’t come from the same social class? Or is it because of Aitana’s previous mental health issues, or her adopted child, etc.? “You’re Not Me” spends so much time finding reasons to isolate Aitana, but only until the very end do you realize why.
The big reveal at the end of “You’re Not Me” is a pretty decent twist, however, it takes a much longer time than it should to get there. One can appreciate the elongation of the reveal as a means to build tension, but by the time we are treated to an explanation it feels like we could’ve arrived there 15 minutes prior to greater effect. The end of the film also does something that those who favor ambiguous endings will absolutely detest. There is certainly an argument to be made that the last 5-7 minutes of the movie really aren’t necessary, and actually do a disservice to the curation of paranoia that preceded this bit. Nevertheless, this is a technically strong film that uses the camera and location to great effect in establishing an atmosphere of discomfort and secrecy. The secluded and affluent villa-style surroundings while beautiful, are a perfect backdrop for the malice that ensues and the diabolical things families will do for each other.
LAST RITES
In spite of some meandering towards the climax, “You’re Not Me” is sure to please fans of paranoid thrillers with some devilishly fun twists!
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
Starring
Where can you watch it?
You’re Not Me played at FANTASTIC FEST 2023.
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