AFFECTION

***

Directed by BT Meza.

Starring Jessica Rothe, Joseph Cross, Julianna Layne.

Science-Fiction, US, 90 Minutes.

Reviewed as part of FrightFest Halloween 2025

After making an immediate impression as a Final Girl in the HAPPY DEATH DAY films, Jessica Rothe seems to be going back to the well that made her name at the start of AFFECTION. Crawling along a backroad, looking decidedly the worse for wear, she is soon run over by a fast moving car. This arresting beginning is made even more enigmatic with the scene that follows it when we encounter Rothe’s character, named Ellie, once again without injury but very confused and angry. Not recognising her home, husband or daughter, Ellie is further dismayed to learn that her name is actually Sarah and any memories she may have of another life are part of a medical condition that regularly resets her neural pathways and causes seizures. 

With the prospect of re-adjusting to her life, the film employs a slow-burn approach as we watch Ellie/Sarah readjust to her life, husband and daughter. Learning everything about them in an awkward fashion we slowly adjust until we learn the truth about what is actually happening.

Debut director BT Meza does a fine job of stringing the audience along before revealing the truth of it all. While low in budget, the film only has three or four locations and three cast members, it manages to hold the audience's attention throughout, particularly with the more immediate and urgent second half of the film. To say anymore would rob you of the genuine, and often creepy, surprises the film has to offer.

Known for more comedic roles, even in her horror work, Rothe proves what an impressive actress she really is with a revelatory performance. She makes her character immediately sympathetic with her angry then awkward behaviour to her family before proving just as impressive with the unexpected developments that her character goes through. It proves that Meza knows how to direct actors beyond any doubt and hopefully in the future he will have a bigger canvas through which to explore his interesting take on genres that he more than proves to have a handle on here.

Iain MacLeod