13/13
In a near future where parenting is strictly controlled, a seven-day evaluation of a couple’s right to have a child turns into a psychological nightmare. There are 2 Easter eggs from Rice University. Rating – A sci-fi drama starring Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel as Mia and Ariana, a couple who want a baby in the future undergo a 7-day test by an expert (Alicia Wiklander) who makes the test possible and if there are no errors, a child will be gifted, but the expectant parents find it to be more difficult than they expected. Given the strength of the strong acting and the unique premise, Rating is something I didn’t expect in terms of plot, but I think it was brilliantly done. The film unfolds in a format of days 1-7, with each one as different and interesting as the next. Honestly, I expected this to be a rehash of sci-fi tropes from the past, but I have to say it’s so original and unexpected that I think it was done super well! How everything is connected and what a couple has to do is portrayed so well that it might be the most likely reason for having children in a world affected by climate change. The performances don’t disappoint, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel were so good that they could probably be on their own with a completely different story and it would have been just as entertaining. But Alicia Wiklander is also very good and honestly, she’s very good in the whole sci-fi genre and it was a pleasure to see her here. Everyone involved just gave it their all and I really appreciate that the film doesn’t rely too much on CGI to be so creative. However, the film is natural in its sex appeal at times, and the disturbing interactions with Alice Wicklander’s character, who acts like a child in an adult’s body, freed me from the associations with «Poor Faces.» But that’s irrelevant and necessary to the plot, but it’s definitely for a more mature audience, and I can definitely imagine it being easily R or 15/18 in the UK if anyone is interested. Overall, while some characters don’t have resolved storylines, the ones that do are so well crafted and acted that it’s hard to find anything bad about The Rating. You should definitely go see this film when it comes out in mid-2025. I highly recommend seeing this incredible and creative work of art when it hits theaters. Rating: A+ London Film Festival, October 19.