You know how when you look at a child that’s misbehaving and their parents aren’t doing anything about it, and you think to yourself that there really should be a license for some people to breed? Well, that’s the premise behind the 2024 sci-fi thriller gem The Assessment that you probably missed in theaters, but is now finally getting the love it deserves thanks to streaming.
Starring MCU great Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider), and Himesh Patel (Station Eleven), The Assessment takes place in a dystopian world that’s plagued by environmental disasters and where resources are scarce. As such, things have to be carefully planned out, including reproduction, which is controlled by the government. Mia (Olsen) and Aaryan (Patel) are a successful couple hoping to conceive, and are assigned an assessor (Vikander) who moves in with them for seven days to determine if they’re fit to be parents. However, things quickly turn into a psychological nightmare, forcing the hopeful couple to question the very foundations of their society and what it truly means to be human.
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‘The Assessment’ Review: Elizabeth Olsen & Alicia Vikander’s Psychological Sci-Fi Stunner
Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander, Himesh Patel, and Minnie Driver star in the thought-provoking film ‘The Assessment’ about procreation in the future.
Directed by Fleur Fortuné in her feature-length debut, The Assessment also stars Minnie Driver, Leah Harvey, Indira Varma, Nicholas Pinnock, and Charlotte Ritchie. Premiering at TIFF on September 8, 2024, the film received a limited theatrical release in March of this year, but, sadly, only managed to take in a little over $279,000 against a budget of $8 million. It hit digital less than a month later on April 8, and finally made its streaming premiere on Hulu on July 19. Now, less than 10 days later, it’s become a hit, and currently sits in the #6 spot on the list of Top 15 movies at the time of this writing, finally getting the recognition it should have gotten earlier this year.
Critics and Fans Raved About ‘The Assessment’
Packed full of existential questions and themes of control, class division, and privilege, The Assessment is as thought-provoking as it is visually stunning. Fortuné shines in her directorial debut to deliver a film that’s full of style and color, while at the same time creating a retro vibe that’s fun to get lost in despite the movie’s dense subject matter. Olsen, Vikander, and Patel all give tremendous performances, with Vikander “stealing the show,” according to critics, who gave the film a certified fresh rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. As Jared Rasic from Detroit Metro Times put it:
“From the score to the performances to the cinematography, script, and direction, The Assessment is a singular work I won’t soon forget and Fortuné crafts some imagery here unlike anything that has come before in cinema.”
Fans raved about the film even more, propelling it to an audience score of 92%. Some called it an “incredibly compelling and bleak depiction of the future” and “a bit uncomfortable” at times, while, like critics, others had high praise for The Assessment’s visual style and “intriguing concept,” and the performances of its three leads.
Needless to say, this is one that dystopian sci-fi fans need to put on their watch list, because if you’ve yet to see it, you’re going to want to check it out sooner rather than later. The Assessment is now streaming on Hulu from Magnolia Pictures.
Source: Hulu
4.5
/5
Release Date
March 21, 2025
Runtime
114 Minutes
Director
Fleur Fortune
Writers
John Donnelly, Nell Garfath Cox, Dave Thomas
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