Queen of Earth

 

Relationships with women are complicated at best.  Mothers and Daughters and Best Friends. Have you ever had a best friend or a really close girlfriend get a little too close for comfort – crossing all kinds of boundaries?

Queen of Earth finds Elisabeth Moss (Catherine) being so depressed by the death of father, that her childhood friend invites her to the family lake house for a little R &R.  Right off the bat, you feel something isn’t quite right.  First off, her friend, Virginia (Katherine Waterson) has this really creepy, horror/thriller film vibe.  You know the kind you get while watching Single White Female with Bridget Fonda?

Except, these two seem to be jealous and unkind to anyone that infringes upon them spending time with each other.  Enter Rich (Patrick Fugit).  Rich despises Catherine for being spoiled, privileged and uppity. Catherine isn’t his biggest fan and needless to say, they really rub each other the wrong way. It’s Rich’s disapproval and taunting that eventually sends girlfriend over the edge.

However, it is when Virginia realizes that Catherine pretends to have conversations with people who aren’t there, she realizes that her good friend isn’t as perfect and composed as she thought.

Queen of Earth is a real interesting look at how a close relationship between two seemingly unhappy women becomes frayed and misunderstood as the years go by.  The friendship either survives or dissipates.

This film was intriguing to me for one reason – Elisabeth Moss.  Catherine was such a departure from her “Mad Men” Peggy persona solidifying to me that she probably should have won an Emmy years ago.  Her slow descent into madness is absolutely brilliant and captivating to watch.

Katherine Waterson (Virginia) gives more emotion with a look than any actor I have ever seen.  It’s done with such control and command that it literally makes your skin crawl (which in this film is a good thing)

Queen of Earth opens today in New York City with a national release coming soon after.  Stay tuned here and I will let you know when that happens.