Kissing Candice

So glad I went to see this film at TIFF last week. From the breathtaking visuals, extraordinary sound design and the magnetic performance of Irish newcomer Ann Skelly playing Candice, this weird movie had me gripped all the way through to the final credits. The dreamy atmosphere is punctuated by dark moments of small town frustration/violence and the eerie support cast lend a menacing air throughout. My favorite thing about this film, besides all the obvious technical mastery, is the constant feeling of impending doom that surrounds Candice like a swirling fog. They have managed to nail what it feels like to be a teenage girl growing up in an oppressive (whether real or imagined) environment. 'Kissing Candice' certainly whet my appetite for seeing more from writer/director Aoife McArdle - an auteur to watch out for in the future. Can't wait to see what she does next. Impressive debut.