Perpetrator (film)

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Perpetrator
Release poster
Directed byJennifer Reeder
Written byJennifer Reeder
Produced by
  • Derek Bishé
  • Gregory Chambet
Starring
CinematographySevdije Kastrati
Edited byJustin Krohn
Music byNick Zinner
Production
companies
Distributed byShudder
Release dates
  • February 17, 2023 (2023-02-17) (Berlinale)
  • September 1, 2023 (2023-09-01)
Running time
100 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United States
  • France[1]
LanguageEnglish

Perpetrator is a 2023 horror film written and directed by Jennifer Reeder. It stars Kiah McKirnan, Melanie Liburd, Ireon Roach, Casimere Jollette, Tim Hopper, Josh Bywater, Chris Lowell and Alicia Silverstone. The film follows Jonny, an impulsive teenage girl living in a town where young women continue to go missing.[2]

It was nominated to compete for the Panorama Audience Award at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on February 17, 2023.[3] The film was released on the streaming service Shudder on September 1, 2023.

Cast[edit]

  • Kiah McKirnan as Jonquil "Jonny" Baptiste
  • Melanie Liburd as Jean Baptiste
  • Ireon Roach as Elektra
  • Casimere Jollette as Aviva
  • Tim Hopper as Gene Baptiste
  • Josh Bywater as Officer Sterling
  • Audrey Francis as Marcy
  • Christopher Lowell as Principal Burke
  • Alicia Silverstone as Hildie Baptiste
  • Sasha Kuznetsov as Kirk
  • Ilirida Memedovski as Avalon
  • Greta Stolte as Darby

Production[edit]

Jennifer Reeder's second feature to screen at Berlinale, following 2019's Knives and Skin, is produced by newly turned producers, Paris-based sales agent WTFilms. It also marks her third collaboration with Shudder, since 2021 anthology film V/H/S/94 and 2022 film Night’s End.[4][5] Reeder and her crew shot Perpetrator in Chicago during March 2022, which she described as "a miserable time to shoot a film, but we got beautiful footage."[6]

Release[edit]

Perpetrator had its premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 17, 2023.[7] It was reported in December 2022, that Shudder had acquired the distribution rights.[8] It was invited to Horizons section of 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was screened on June 30, 2023.[9]The film was selected for Festival She Makes Noise 2023, where it was screened on October 20 (Spanish Premiere).[10]

The film was released on September 1, 2023.[11]

Reception[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 47 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "A smartly ambitious supernatural thriller, Perpetrator blends an assortment of genres and influences into a bloody good time."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 66 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[13]

Jessica Kiang reviewing at Berlin Film Festival, for Variety wrote, "The tonal uncertainty is hardly helped by an arch performance style that too often strays closer to play-acting than acting — an impression enhanced by the disparity in age between much of the principal cast and the teenagers they’re playing."[14] Jude Dry reviewing for IndieWire graded the film B− and wrote, that the film "suffers from a novice lead performance and a script that tries to do too much." Dry praising Silverstone stated, "she is a steely delight as the sharp-tongued and demanding mystery lady." Concluding she said, "There are satisfying genre elements, to be sure, Perpetrator cannot be accused of playing it safe."[15]

Accolades[edit]

Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival February 26, 2023 Panorama Audience Award for Best Feature Film Perpetrator Nominated [16]
Teddy Award February 26, 2023 Best Feature Film Nominated [17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Perpetrator". Berlinale. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Lang, Brent (December 16, 2022). "Shudder Buys Jennifer Reeder 'Perpetrator,' Horror Noir With Kiah McKirnan and Alicia Silverstone (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Bałaga, Marta (December 15, 2022). "The Berlinale announces its first Panorama and Generation titles". Cineuropa. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Dale, Martin (January 8, 2023). "WTFilms' Gregory Chambet on Move into Production With 'Perpetrator,' Starring Alicia Silverstone, Xavier Gens' 'Farang'". Variety. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Sok, Laura (December 16, 2023). "Jennifer Reeder Returns to Berlinale to World Premiere Shudder Original Film — Horror-Noir Perpetrator, Starring Kiah McKirnan & Alicia Silverstone". AMC Networks. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Keogan, Natalia (February 23, 2023). ""Coming of Age Is a Lifelong Process": Jennifer Reeder on Perpetrator". Filmmaker. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Roxborough, Scott (December 15, 2022). "Berlin Fest Unveils First 2023 Panorama and Generation Titles". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Hamman, Cody (December 16, 2022). "Perpetrator: Shudder acquires Jennifer Reeder horror film starring Alicia Silverstone". JoBlo. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: Horizons". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. June 30, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  10. ^ "9th She Makes Noise Festival at La Casa Encendida in Madrid". La Casa Encendida. October 20, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  11. ^ Squires, John (July 19, 2023). "Perpetrator Trailer – Alicia Silverstone Stars in Shudder's New Feminist Horror Noir Feature". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "Perpetrator". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  13. ^ "Perpetrator". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  14. ^ Kiang, Jessica (February 17, 2023). "'Perpetrator' Review: Jennifer Reeder Directs Alicia Silverstone in a Lo-Fi, Costumey High School Horror-Noir". Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Dry, Jude (February 17, 2023). "'Perpetrator' Review: Alicia Silverstone Cuts Deep in Wacky but Scattered Feminist Horror". IndieWire. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  16. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (December 15, 2022). "Berlinale Reveals First Panorama, Generation Titles For 2023 Edition". Variety. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  17. ^ "Feature Films: TEDDY nominated". Teddy Award (in German). Word Press. February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.

External links[edit]

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