By specializing in its central relationship drama, “Kill Your Lover” by no means absolutely devolves into the sweaty social critique that it generally threatens to turn out to be. In dialogue with one another—in addition to intercourse and bite-sized recollections that come again to them as they quarrel—we see Gilmour and Quigley-Murphy’s characters as quarrelsome, fully-realized individuals who, on the finish of their time as a pair, clearly shouldn’t be collectively. They dig deeper at one another than the standard trite, inventory causes for film {couples}’ dysfunction, making “Kill Your Lover” an intimate breakup drama that occurs to comply with one of many grossest kills of the 12 months with this line: “I simply need you to listen to my aspect. So let’s discuss it out.”
Tensions additionally aptitude between two kindred spirits in “Lifeless Mail,” a weirdly transferring thriller about Trent (John Fleck), a determined loner, and Josh (Sterling Macer Jr.), the person that Trent has kidnapped. Trent and Josh’s relationship is understandably relatively fraught, but it surely unfolds with an uncommon sensitivity and a spotlight paid to its neurotic characters’ emotions, even aspect characters like Jasper (Tomas Boykin), the reclusive, however not sad postal employee who occurs to obtain a blood-smeared letter from Trent. I used to be completely charmed by “Lifeless Mail,” whose tone is at all times shy of cringe humor-style awkwardness. It’s probably not a horror film, however relatively an unsettling and unselfconsciously pulpy tragedy about how thrilling and scary it may be to fall for after which out of step with a liked one.
“Pink Rooms,” a Canadian courtroom drama and character examine, additionally extends a uncommon consideration to lonely protagonists who’re by no means fully outlined by their compulsive conduct. Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariépy), a trend mannequin, bonds with Clementine (Laurie Babin), an unhoused teenager, after they each attend a controversial homicide trial. Everyone has opinions about Ludovic Chevalier (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos), a sullen and principally silent accused killer of three teenage women, whom he supposedly eviscerated stay on digicam for an untraceable “darkish net” viewers. We fortunately by no means be taught what motivates Kelly-Anne’s obsession with Chevalier, although you may inform some issues primarily based on her clean stares, in addition to her chilly detachment at any time when she logs onto her house’s desktop laptop. We additionally don’t spend an excessive amount of time pondering what sort of relationship Kelly-Anne and Clementine have developed, since Clementine is barely a part of Kelly-Anne’s story.