Alice Darling (2022) Apr 2026

Daniel Bayer's review published on Letterboxd: Anna Kendrick is better than she's ever been as a woman in an abusive relationship, Letterboxd

In the 2022 psychological thriller Alice, Darling , Anna Kendrick delivers a career-best, raw performance as a woman navigating the invisible chains of a psychologically abusive relationship . Directed by Mary Nighy in her feature debut, the film shifts away from typical cinematic tropes of physical violence, focusing instead on the subtle, insidious nature of "coercive control" and emotional gaslighting. The story follows Alice during a lakeside vacation with two close friends, played by Wunmi Mosaku and Kaniehtiio Horn, where she begins to reclaim her sense of self after years of manipulation by her boyfriend, Simon. The Subtle Horror of Mental Abuse Alice Darling (2022)

: Alice is portrayed as a professional woman who seems to have it all together, but her constant checking of her phone and rehearsed lies to avoid Simon’s wrath show her "internally unraveling". Daniel Bayer's review published on Letterboxd: Anna Kendrick

** Trichotillomania**: Kendrick’s character is shown compulsively pulling out her hair (trichotillomania) when stressed, a visceral representation of her internal anxiety and the toll of Simon's control. The Subtle Horror of Mental Abuse : Alice

Unlike many thrillers that rely on grand twists, Alice, Darling finds its tension in the everyday "quiet moments" that reveal Alice's fraying mental state:

: The film highlight how abuse can hide behind "politeness and routine," where an abuser isolates a partner through belittlement rather than physical harm. A Personal Connection for Anna Kendrick ‘Alice, Darling’ review by Daniel Bayer - Letterboxd