Imposters (SXSW) is Twisty Independent Sci-fi Horror Done Right

Title: Imposters

First Non-Festival Release: TBD

Director: Caleb Phillips

Writer: Caleb Phillips

Runtime: 102 Minutes

Starring: Charlie Barnett, Jessica Rothe, Bates Wilder, Yul Vazquez

Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here

“This is a great life if you choose it.” We all make choices about who are, what we believe, and how we want to move through life. Some are prouder of their choices than others. If you could change just a few decisions to cobble together the life you always imagined for yourself, would you make that decision?

For Paul (Charlie Barnett) and Marie (Jessica Rothe), neither thought their lives would turn out the way it did. Ever since their marriage turned stale, stemming from his recovery from the bullet wound that cost him his career as a police officer, Paul cheats on Marie. Marie plays the good wife at home despite knowing of her husband’s infidelity. She’s content to pretend things are alright as long as they appear to be. Their perfect illusion is shattered when their son disappears while they are hosting a block party. Weeks go by and all hope seems to be lost when Marie takes action based on the suspect information from a strange man named Orson (Bates Wilder) who lived in their house before them.

Imposters is a wild and twisty sci-fi horror film that subverts expectations every step of the way.

Establishing the stakes early on, Imposters depicts a marriage crumbling long before any abduction occurs. Infidelity, differences in life goals and priorities, and a general indifference towards each other’s needs spells danger for Paul and Marie. Their marriage only exists for this child, whom they both clearly care for. In fact, both state that the only reason they remain together is because of their baby. It’s a refreshing display of honesty but it portends trouble once the kidnapping takes place.

While Imposters makes their baby’s abduction the catalyst for their issues surging to the forefront of their minds, it offers a unique take on how they can proceed. To go into too much detail would venture into spoiler territory, but Imposters does great work to lay the foundation for a scenario that lets Paul and Marie win. Offering the typical question of how far parents will go for their children, this charming sci-fi horror film challenges viewers on their own notions of what is best for children. Is it simply determined by a parent’s intuition or feeling, or should more go into this calculus? The ethical considerations Imposters pose become a compelling source of tension and provocation.

Imposters interrogates plenty, offering meaningful commentary on the utility of lying and the ways people fake relationships to make life work. Throughout the twisty story of Imposters, Paul and Marie are faced with a series of escalating choices that pressure them to make hard decisions about their lives and families too. Both have compelling reasons for why they choose to stay with each other, even when it’s clear their relationship is no longer tenable.

What is the right decision to make, to leave or to stay? Imposters repeats this question over and over, allowing both Paul and Marie to dig deep and decide what action to commit with finality.

Charlie Barnett and Jessica Rothe make the choices feel earned, even when the story demands more from them. Barnett leads with confidence, playing the objectively slimy Paul, he gives him enough dimension to make his hesitation and concern feel authentic. Rothe starts off static enough before working up to the explosive scenes of the third act. She handles each turn with dynamism, making Marie a truly compelling character to watch. Her understanding of her character evolves beautifully as the revelations wash over Marie like a tsunami.

Imposters is a stripped-down, sci-fi horror film with a smart story and interesting morality lesson. Playing out like a more demented episode of “The Twilight Zone,” Imposters uses its impossible situation to expound on the importance of authenticity, trust, and commitment in the context of relationships, especially the most complicated relationships of all: familial. Excellent leading performances and a smart subversion of its setup makes Imposters a fantastic psychological sci-fi horror.

Overall Score? 8/10