Nancy, Please

Nancy, Please is an intriguing, darkly comic drama directed by Andrew Semans in 2012, starring Will Rogers, Eleonore Hendricks, and Rebecca Lawrence Levy. The film boldly uses tension and psychological terror to illuminate the nebulous boundaries of guilt and responsibility, shining the spotlight on the protagonist’s tale of self-inflicted torment.

The story revolves around Paul (Will Rogers), an achingly flawed character. He's a bright, but ultimately failing, PhD candidate diligently working on his dissertation. Paul represents the familiar face of young adulthood marked by potential but consumed by the constant feeling of being lost. Not too long after the film begins, he and his long-time girlfriend, Jen (Rebecca Lawrence Levy), move into their own apartment as part of Paul's route to a mature, responsible life.

But things take an unexpected turn when Paul realizes that he has left a crucial item behind in his old apartment. The object in question is an annotated copy of Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit," a book central to his yet-to-be-completed dissertation and which he believes he can't work without. Interestingly, though, the annotated book lies in the hands of his eccentric former roommate, Nancy (played expertly by Eleonore Hendricks), from whom he must retrieve it.

Nancy, who appears harmless at first glance, embodies an ostensibly reluctant villain and plays a crucial (albeit mostly absent) role in the tale. Despite opportunities to get the book back, Paul finds it increasingly difficult to face Nancy. In the course of desperation to retrieve the worn-out Dickens’ novel, without giving too much away, the evolution of the issue uncovers Paul's deep-seated fears, obsessive anxieties, and paranoia.

It's not a horror movie in the traditional sense; there are no gruesome visuals or horrific elements. Instead, Nancy, Please delves into the psychological realm, highlighting how mundane situations can morph into daunting monsters of the mind. The way the film handles subject matter is clever and commendable - it ratchets up tension within its character-driven framework. As the story progresses, the ominous dread surges, blending a sense of destruction, anxiety, and nervous laughter in a psychological cauldron.

The character development throughout the film is impressive, and the performances from the key cast members are noteworthy. Rogers gives an affecting portrayal of Paul, charting his journey from a seemingly hapless PhD student to a man undone by his own neurotic obsessions. Levy's portrayal of Jen, who plays the supportive, albeit frustrated girlfriend, offers a nice contrast to Paul’s worsening mental state.

Meanwhile, Hendricks steals scenes in her mysterious and enigmatic performance as Nancy. She is shown as indifferent and somewhat unruly, prickling the edges of Paul's anxieties to near-breaking point. Yet, she never jumps off the screen as a caricatured villain; instead, her casual demeanour intensifies the psychological terrorism that grips Paul.

Director Andrew Semans has a sharp handle on the escalating tension, crafting a compelling narrative that intensely focuses on its character trading comedy for dread. The cinematographer, Eric Lin, also creates a visually captivating ensemble, using muted colors and claustrophobic shot compositions to amplify Paul's growing sense of unease.

The equally engaging screenplay imbued with smart, dark humor aids the film's layered exploration of responsibility, fear and guilt. It expertly amplifies the tension in ordinary, everyday tasks, presenting a surreal yet believable centrepiece of dread.

In conclusion, Nancy, Please is an intelligent, subtle examination of anxiety. The viewer is left to watch Paul's life unravel in front of our eyes, serving a tense psychological drama wonderfully balanced with elements of dark comedy. The film successfully amplifies the fearfulness of life's trivial matters, proving that one's biggest enemy can often be their own self-inflicted inability to face problems head-on. Semans' debut film is a commendable exploration of the human psyche, showcasing the dark alleyways of paranoia, self-destruction and personal responsibility.