The low-budget psychological thriller Birdeater
grapples with the new age of emotional manipulation through its center couple, Louie (Mackenzie Fearnley) and Irene (Shabana Azeez). Directed by Jack Clark and Jim Weir in their feature debut, Birdeater is a strong start for the filmmakers, but the film never takes us past the point of no return. For a movie that takes its name from a giant bird-eating spider, I was never consumed by the narrative the way I wanted to be, even if the film is a credit to up-and-coming independent cinema.

It’s a mistake to enter into Birdeater thinking it will provide the gory thrills most contemporary horror movies deliver. To call Birdeater a horror film at all isn’t quite right, either. There are elements of the story that tread into grosser and more visceral territory throughout the narrative, but these are few and far between, as the movie relies on its disorientingly skillful editing to throw us off balance. However, this doesn’t take away from the fact the movie unfolds a little too predictably for it to become a cult classic.

Birdeater Is A Bit Weak On Story But Makes Up For It Technically

Each Element Of Birdeater Is Thoughtfully Chosen & Elevates The Overall Atmosphere

Most audiences will be able to guess Birdeater‘s plot from the opening montage, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The larger themes are in conversation with the systemic issues and covert toxic masculinity that plague modern society, and these are hiding in playing sight, much like the story itself. What elevates Birdeater beyond being another cautionary tale are the flawlessly executed technical aspects. Even with a limited budget, the film uses perfectly timed music cues, well-placed cuts, and striking visual choices to bring us into the characters’ unraveling world.

Fearnley is despicable as Louie, the soft-spoken, simpering fiancé who slowly reveals his true colors as Birdeater unfolds. The actors do a decent job overall, but it’s likely the slow-burn psychological drama would be more effective in the hands of a more experienced cast. The point of Birdeater is that Louie has slowly and stealthily taken away Irene’s agency and ability to fight back against his manipulation, but that doesn’t mean that Azeez should fade into the background of her scenes. It’s true she’s been overwhelmed by Louie, but we needed more from her.

The standout of Birdeater turns out to be Ben Hunter’s Dylan, a character who begins the movie as an unlikable pain and ends up revealing himself to be more worthy of empathy than some of the other male characters. Through the setting of a bachelor party, Birdeater dives headfirst into the somewhat tired “boys vs. girls” dynamic, but Clark and Weir don’t rely solely on this for conflict. Everyone is trapped in some kind of toxic dynamic, with Irene being the most extreme example, though Louie’s manipulation touches everyone.

The building blocks of a great movie are scattered throughout Birdeater, and if this is only Clark and Weir’s debut, then we can expect exciting things from them in the future. Though the time to stop discussing the impact patriarchy and the social capital of men have on the world is never, Birdeater doesn’t have anything new to say about it. There are no solutions or revelations within the story, even if it’s packaged well and goes down easy.

Despite Its тιԍнт Script & Compelling Editing, Birdeater’s Twist Doesn’t Pack A Punch

The Third-Act Plot Twist Is A Bit Of A Letdown

The fact that Birdeater is a slower and more deliberate addition to the genre than what we’re used to doesn’t put me off of it. It’s not a lack of action that was disappointing, but a lack of conviction. There are several moments when Clark and Weir have the chance to get much closer to the root of the issues they’re trying to unpack. Though there’s subtle conflict and building tension, even the most overtly stressful moments pᴀss quickly and don’t inspire the kind of response a movie like Birdeater should elicit.

I wanted more from every aspect of the story, but the reveal of the source of Irene’s guilt was especially lukewarm. The event that led her deeper into Louie’s trap was violent and unexpected, but it didn’t land emotionally. Whether this was because of where the flashback was placed in the story or because I never fully connected with Irene is debatable. Birdeater didn’t have to be a blood-soaked revenge movie to be more effective, but it took too few risks to be truly thought-provoking.

Birdeater is now available to watch in theaters and on VOD. The film is 113 minutes long and not rated.