Why women kill: a review of the series "Wilderness"
Psychological thriller about revenge, based on the book of the same name by Beverly Jones.
Liv (Jenna Coleman) marries Will (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), gives up her journalism career and follows her husband from the provinces of Great Britain to New York. While her partner is busy with his new job, the girl sets up house and tries to write a novel. Flawless at first glance life is shattered when Liv learns of her husband's infidelity. At first, the heroine seems ready to forgive the man and even agrees to a joint trip to the national parks of the United States. But soon realizes that it was not a one-time affair. Tears are replaced by rage, and the upcoming trip turns into an opportunity to take revenge on the traitor.
"Wilderness" begins as an exemplary feminist revenge movie that gives the viewer hope for a six-hour ride of anger and retribution. And so it is, up to a point. Liv does indeed plot her revenge, foreshadowing Will as the victim of an "accident." But the trailer, synopsis, and first episode prove deceptive in some ways. Vendetta is in the background, and the true plot begins only during the trip of the newlyweds. In nature, the spouses encounter Will's coworker and part-time mistress: Kara (Ashley Benson) supposedly happened to be in the right place at the right time with her young man. From that moment on, the characters drown in a cycle of lies: Will has no idea that Liv knows about his secret liaison with his coworker. Against the backdrop of picturesque landscapes and will happen the main event of the series, after which a new round of plot development is launched.
On the one hand, an unexpected twist is an obvious plus for the show. On the other hand, the viewer may get the feeling that what is unfolding on the screen is not exactly what he or she originally intended to watch. The chaotic narrative is both surprising and confusing. You never know what the resourceful Liv will do next, as she reveals new sides with each episode. The heroine's plans change throughout the series, and the audience is constantly kept in the dark, anxious and at times irritated.
Liv is an atypical heroine. As we know, in movies, most girls who face adultery appear as victims. Liv is not one of those, no self-pity and no desperate plea to choose her family over her mistress. The cinematic sisters of the cheating wife can be called Cassandra from "The Hopeful Girl", Amy Dunn from "Vanished" and the heroines of the series "Why Women Kill". The authors of "Badlands" focus not so much on the image of a devoted wife, but on the circumstances that led her to the warpath. Liv, like the housewives of the 1950s, put her career on pause for the welfare of her husband, and in return received a tangle of betrayals. The girl's true motives are revealed. The journalist's main fear is not the loss of her beloved. She is afraid to repeat the fate of her mother, who was abandoned by her husband. To avoid such a fate, Liv is even ready to commit a crime.
Going beyond traditional roles is not only about Liv. It's about the mistress Kara. The two girls practically do not compete, and on the contrary, at times even find common ground. Instead of unnecessary conversations, the author shows how the two women sympathize with each other with a single look. Well-defined heroines are perhaps the strongest part of the project.
Despite its obvious merits, after a couple episodes and angry arguments, "Wilderness" wants to be accused of wasted potential. It's as if the writers are afraid to take a risky step and shock the audience. Liv's devious plot turns out to be more interesting in words than in deed. Closer to the end, the plot rapidly loses its grip and ability to hold the viewer's attention. It is worth watching for the sake of two beautiful ladies - Jenna Coleman and Taylor Swift. The former's performance deserves a round of applause, and the latter's intro song (Look what you made me do) sometimes gives more emotion than the whole series.
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