Share

Share is an evocative and engrossing exploration of the digital age’s impacts on teenage life. Rhianne Barreto’s breakthrough performance in the lead role, along with robust supports from J.C. MacKenzie and Christian Corrao, creates an atmosphere pervaded with tension and lingering unease.

Directed by Pippa Bianco in her feature-length debut, Share delves into the dark sides of instant communication and online culture, blending suspense with unsettling realism to craft a social thriller that’s both thought-provoking and subtly terrifying. Released in 2019 by A24, this film is steeped in palpable vulnerability, exploring the themes of innocence, trust and the fight for truth in an increasingly digital and disconnected world.

Barreto’s character, 16-year-old Mandy, is the center of this emotionally charged narrative. One morning, Mandy wakes up on the lawn in front of her house, unable to recall the pieced-together events of last night. Riddled with confusion, she tries to brush off her strange haziness and returns to her routine. However, unsettling discoveries soon destroy any sense of normalcy.

When Mandy receives a video of herself from the previous night, possessing no memory of the documented events, her personal life swiftly becomes a disconcerting public spectacle. She is suddenly thrust into a whirlpool of suspicion, accusation, and threats in her high school. With each passing moment, Mandy’s world starts to crumble, with everyone around her succumbing to judgment and paranoia.

Barreto gives a brilliantly nuanced performance as Mandy. Her portrayal intricately balances raw emotion with subtle strength, flawlessly depicting a realistic teen grappling with a confusing and terrifying situation. Mandy hovers in a limbo of speculation, confronting her own confusion and desperately reaching out for answers.

On the other side are Mandy’s stressed parents, played convincingly by J.C. MacKenzie and Poorna Jagannathan, who are equally paralyzed by the unfolding crisis, struggling to support their daughter while grasping the chaotic implications of the situation. Tension mounts as they are caught between protection and seeking justice. Their performances, along with Barreto's, serve as the emotional anchor, illustrating the gut-wrenching parental struggle from a different perspective.

Supplementing the film's dark premise is the peer pressure faced by Mandy’s friend and basketball teammate, Jenna, played by Lovie Simone. Jenna’s conflicting loyalties provide additional depth to the story, reflecting the harsh realities of high school culture and the toxicity of rumors amplified by digital media. As Jenna struggles with her own guilt and allegiance, Simone’s performance accentuates the subtle nuances of teenage relationships and showcases the moral dilemmas faced at every corner of this crisis.

Christian Corrao deserves a special mention for his shattering performance as Dylan. His character's layers, shifting from carefree adolescence to a fearful realization of the gravity of the situation, provide an insight into teenagers' vulnerability to such traumatic experiences in the digital era.

The entire cast enthralls the audience with their remarkable performances that grip and mesmerize, indulging viewers in their characters’ fears, dilemmas, and pleas for justice.

Cinematographer Ava Berkofsky captures the subtle essence of Share with her minimalistic yet poignant visual storytelling. The use of natural lighting and close-up shots reinforces the film’s unsettling tone, creating an immersive viewing experience. The background score by Shlohmo underlines the disturbing undertones of the story, leveraging the power of silence and minimalist music to accentuate the drama.

This American drama does more than just telling a story - it initiates a crucial conversation about the unseen consequences of technology, revealing the deep scars left by online abuse on adolescents' psychology and familial relationships. Its deeply nuanced narrative and character portrayals stand testament to the movie being much more than your regular coming-of-age tale. It’s a door knocked wide open into the traumas, fears, and courage of a teenage girl fighting her fight in an unforgiving digital age. Share is thus an essential watch, sagaciously portraying an alarming social reality while making an earnest appeal for empathy and understanding in an increasingly disconnected world.