So please hold on to your seats and prepare for a thrilling ride with Allison Janney playing a former CIA agent hiding out in a secluded forest area with her faithful dog Jax. She doesn’t like talking to anyone, but a darling little neighbor girl named Vee (Ridley Asha Bateman) likes her anyway. Hannah, Vee’s mom (the wonderful Jurnee Smollet), doesn’t understand how she can feel that way. And neither can we. But stay wide awake while the film reveals secret after secret and shows you why.
As the story unfolds, you’ll forget all about Janney because your interest can’t help being on a strange woman named Lou.
Allison Janney never had
a role like LOU and she’s not bad.
She transforms herself all the way
into a real tough gal, I say.
She’s brave and remote but willing
to help stop a strange kidnapping.
Through storms and dangerous terrain,
why does she put up with such pain?
This thriller boasts action galore.
Plus lots of violence in store.
Dark scenes at times block story’s view
which I don’t like. How about you?
Still, watching Janney in this role
seems entertainment for the soul.
It’s important to mention Philip (Logan Marshall-Green), the supposed kidnapper. He happens to be Vee’s father, who had disappeared but is back now and causing all the chaos. Can Hannah and her mysterious neighbor Lou find Philip before anything evil happens to Vee?
Whenever a child is in jeopardy in a movie, I’m on the edge of my seat. But this film also turns on a scary storm to make matters worse. If you are a nail biter, bring leather gloves to wear during these scenes to prevent losing all your fingernails.
Regarding those dark sequences, it’s difficult to know what’s going on during some of them. That might help build the tension for viewers, but it makes me frustrated. On the bright side, cinematographer Michael McDonough’s frightening stormy scenes receive an extra boost from the unnerving background music by Nima Fakhara
Lou, directed by Anna Foerster and written by Jack Stanley and Maggie Cohn, gives Janney another Oscar® chance. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised if Smollett shows up in the supporting category this year. They both already made my lists.
Fate whispers to the warrior “You cannot withstand the storm.” The warrior answers back, “I am the storm.” --- Unknown
(Released by Netflix and rated “R” by MPAA.)
