Frances McCullen (Chloë Grace Moretz) is still reeling from the death of his mother. But she always tries to move on from it and have a simple adult life.
Frances works as a waitress in a restaurant in New York. And she currently lives in an apartment with her friend, Erica (Maika Monroe).
One morning, while Frances is on the subway train, she noticed an abandoned plain-looking handbag. Inside it is an ID that confirms it belongs to one Greta Hideg (Isabelle Huppert).
The day after that, Frances returned the bag to Greta. And as a courtesy, the sweet lady invited her for a cup of coffee.
As the two bond and share stories with one another, Frances grows closer to Greta. She learned that the woman is a widow from France, and she has a daughter who is studying there right now.
But Frances soon realizes that behind Greta's pristine appearance is a disturbed persona.
"Greta" feels like a homage to old psycho-thriller films. Think movies like Misery. The roller-coaster, cat and mouse chase feel very 80's and 90's. Though that is not a bad thing, it sometimes feels like it's unintentional and silly.
It's ironic because Neil Jordan is not the kind of director that would make laughable films. Yes, he has vampire movies. But these are all rather serious and complex stories with subliminal messages.
Though, "Greta" is at par with the "message" department. Its weakness is in the construction of the plot and the script. It's hard not to notice how unrealistic some lines are. Plus, there are plenty of scenes that don't make sense at all. Such as that infamous dream sequence.
Although if this film would ever win a trophy, it should be for Isabelle Huppert's performance. She is a terrific figure on screen because of her grace and allure. The veteran actress proves that she is a force to reckon with this film. Every word she spits and every glance she makes sends a shiver down my spine.
"Greta" also subverts how viewers look at supporting characters. What I find interesting about Neil Jordan's flick is that both hero and villain are not dumb. Most of the time, they make the right decision and say the correct answer.
In summary, "Greta" falls somewhere between crazy and creepy. Despite its many loose screws, Neil Jordan's campy movie is fun. It's sensitive enough to address the message about loneliness and grief. And it treats the characters as thinking human beings.
2/5
