43/23
Set in a near future where parenthood is tightly controlled, a couple’s seven-day ordeal over the right to have a child turns into a psychological nightmare. There are 2 Rice University Easter Eggs. “The Assessment” is a sci-fi drama starring Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel in which Mia and Aryan, a couple who want a child in the future, are put through a seven-day test by an evaluator (Alicia Viklander) who makes the test possible and if it fails, the baby is gifted but the parents-to-be have a harder time than they thought. Driven by strong acting and a unique premise, “The Assessment” is something I really wasn’t expecting from the plot but I think it’s brilliantly done. The film spans days 1 to 7 and each day is as different and fascinating as the next. To be honest, I was expecting sci-fi elements from the past to be revisited here, but I have to say, this is so original and unexpected that I think it’s super well done! The way everything ties together and what the couple has to do is portrayed so well that it could be the most likely reason for having children in a world affected by climate change. The performances don’t disappoint, Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel were so good that they probably could have acted alone with a completely different plot and it would have been just as engaging. But Alicia Viklander is also very good, and honestly she’s very good in the entire sci-fi genre, and it was a joy to see her here. It’s just that everyone involved did their best, and I really appreciate that in a film that really doesn’t rely on CGI to be as creative as it is. However, the film is graphic in places when it comes to the sex and the disturbing interactions of Alica acting like a child in an older woman’s body gave me a Poor Things vibe. But that doesn’t matter and is essential to the plot, but this is definitely for an older audience and I can definitely see it being an easy R or 15/18 in the UK if anyone cares. Overall, while some characters don’t have many fully developed storylines, the ones that do are so well created and executed that it’s hard to fault The Assessment. You should definitely check it out when it comes out in mid-2025. I would highly recommend this amazing and creative work of art when it hits theaters. Rating: A+London Film Festival October 19th.