I’m going to be honest with you, folks: Black Bear is the type of movie where the less you know going in, the better.

Don’t bother with stills, trailers or reviews. Just go in blind, and become completely absorbed in this masterful work for two hours.

Black Bear is an incredible, tumultuous, intensely meta film that you’ll be so, unendingly happy you saw. It’s one of those pictures that dares you to strap in and just sit back for the ride.

The formulaic idea of a filmmaker who tries to cure her writer’s block by heading to a rural retreat seems absolutely cliche at first, but this flick is anything but. It’s a riveting, sexy film as filmmaker Allison finds herself entangled with retreat owners Gabe and Blair, who themselves seem to be on the rocks.

Aubrey Plaza fully sheds her Parks & Rec skin with this dramatic role. She’s so good I literally forgot it was her. She pulls you in to the point you forget she’s playing a character. Plaza and Allison become one, and as a result it’s the best performance of the film.

Charlie Abbott has been gaining cred since his departure from Girls years ago, and he doesn’t disappoint here. Sarah Gadon, also, gives a star performance as the three crackle and circle each other in a spider’s web, as the audience wonders who will make the next swipe.

Atmospheric, unhinged and absolutely fearless, this is a film to be reckoned with, and one of the most inventive I’ve seen in years.

4.5/5 Stars

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