Other Animal Film Review - Poor Agnes

When you take a human life you become God just for an instant but if you take a human mind you own a sole then you ARE God is the manifesto of Agnes Poelzl (Lora Burke) as she goes through life on a different plain from most human beings. She young, attractive, energetic and direct but lacks a human quality that at first you might not be able to put your finger on.

The opening shot of the film is a sweeping overhead view of an isolated home deep in the woods of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It's the first of many shifts in angles used by director Navin Ramaswaran to bring the audience in close or keep them back at a distance.  Inside the house we find Agnes pontificating about men and woman in base terms. Into this environment comes Mike (Robert Notman). He is working on behalf of the parents of an old boyfriend who's been missing for 10 years. Mike senses a spark with Agnes which he explores starting a twisted level of dependancy that the term sub cannot even begin to describe.

Writer James Gordon Ross researched the CIA handbook on how to break someone down mentally in preparation for the film Agnes goes through the steps from the 60's manual to turn the investigator into a puddle of mush. He also thought Agnes' key character trait of a devout relationship with God as an important element in line with other megalomaniacs from Hitler to Mussolini or other narcissist. In her mind God is smiling down on her as she carries out her acts. Ross sees it as a flaw in the human species that we are attracted to these dangerous bullies; the cruel people.

Lora Burke is in just about every frame of the film as Agnes. She is driven, talented, intelligent but poor of spirit clearly missing that empathy gene. Robert Notman is effective as Mike the main target of her mind games. Seeing his character being broken down right before our eyes is quite disturbing. Look for Will Conlon as Chris a computer nerd that Agnes meets on a dating site who she uses to fill the spaces when she is either angry, bored or tired of Mike.

Poor Agnes is a very strong entry into the psychological thriller category with a perfectly cast titular character. James Gordon Ross provides a rich script that gives the players plenty to do even packing compelling moments into apparent throwaway scenes. The content will stay with you long after you walk out of the theatre. It will definitely spark sideways looks at the next person that passes by with handcuff bruises on their wrist. But likely best not lead to an interaction for fear of what could come next.

**** Out of 4.

Poor Agnes | Navin Ramaswaran | Canada | 2017 | 95 Minutes.

Tags: Serial Killer, Psychopath, Missing Person, Private Investigator, CIA Handbook, Stockholm Syndrome, Handcuffs, Torture Survivor, Axe, Shotgun, Thunder Bay, Baseball Bat.