Alice, Darling: Is It Based On a True Story? Recap, Cast, Ending Explained and More

“Alice, Darling” is a 2022 psychological thriller drama film that is directed by Mary Nighy and centres on Alice (Anna Kendrick), a young lady who is stuck in an emotionally abusive relationship with her boyfriend Simon

The film is a psychological thriller (Charlie Carrick). She tells him she is leaving for a work trip but in reality she is going on vacation with her two other pals, but she lies to him about it.

After they have arrived, Tess (Kaniehtiio Horn) and Sophie (Wunmi Mosaku), two of Alice’s pals, begin to piece together the missing pieces of the puzzle and understand the reality.

The film “Alice, Darling” highlights how all-consuming an abusive relationship can appear to be, as well as the significance of having supportive companions in one’s life.

If what you read has made you wonder whether or not the story “Alice, Darling” is based on real events, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered.

Alice, Darling
Alice, Darling

Also Read: Alice, Darling: Why Does Alice Leave Simon? Plot, Review and More

Alice, Darling: Is It Based On a True Story?

No, “Alice, Darling” is not based on any real-life events or circumstances. The screenplay for Mary Nighy’s debut feature film, which was written by Alanna Francis, was adapted by the director herself. During an interview with Screen Rant, the director discussed the factors that led her to become involved in the production.

She remarked, “I believe what really spoke to me about the writing of ‘Alice, Darling’ was that it felt as though Alice had such a complex internal world.” “I think that was what really spoke to me about the script of ‘Alice, Darling’.”

The director proceeded, saying that there were very few spoken words. As a filmmaker, the prospect of facing a challenge like that was really appealing to me.

How does one go about creating something that is incredibly personal? How do you externalise it? And what kinds of strategies can you employ, either with sound or a picture, to coax somebody who is caught up in something that is really quite paralysing out of their state?

How are you going to make that clear to the people watching?” Nighy continued by saying that she was intrigued by the friendship between Alice, Tess, and Sophie and how it gives different entry points to people, allowing them to connect with other characters in addition to the protagonist.

She also mentioned that she thought it was interesting how the friendship gave different entry points to people.

There may be times in our lives when we will encounter folks who are in the same predicament as Alice. It is essential to get in touch with them and inquire as to whether or not they require assistance.

Nighy proceeded by saying, “This screenplay felt rather distinctive in the sense that it was more about an absence than a presence. It was more about not being there than being there.”

It wasn’t your standard movie about a violent man; instead, it focused a lot on what the female character goes through rather than what the male character does.

Alice, Darling: Story Line

And I thought that was quite powerful and also quite important, in a way, for people to be aware that this is happening, that emotional abuse does happen, and to focus on the woman rather than the man.”

“And I thought that was quite powerful and also quite important, in a way, for people to be aware that this is happening, that emotional abuse does happen, and to focus

Nighy claims that the script that she got from Francis was really well-researched, and she attributes this to Francis. Francis and the screenplay editor, Mark Van de Ven, did their best to guarantee that the script would contain a genuine representation of the characters’ psychological states.

“We didn’t want to make it a pastiche; we didn’t want to overemphasise; we didn’t want to sort of heighten for a fact how that abuse takes place. However, while we were reading the script, we had a lot of questions about how Simon would come through to the audience,” the director explained.

Alice, Darling
Alice, Darling

Alice, Darling: Cast

The choice of actors was absolutely crucial to achieving a realistic portrayal of Simon as a character in the movie. In the beginning of the story, he is shown as a lovely and generous man who has achieved professional success in a field where such achievement is not always assured.

However, as the story develops and the layer of charm and mellowness that Simon possesses begins to crack, the monster that lurks within Simon begins to surface.

In addition, Nighy discussed how open Anna Kendrick had been about her abusive relationship, which most likely played a role in the creation of Alice as a character. He said that Anna Kendrick had been very honest about her experience.

The actress from “Pitch Perfect” was in a relationship that was emotionally abusive, and it ended not too long before the production of “Alice, Darling” began. This is something that Alice also experienced.

Kendrick expressed his feelings to USA Today, saying, “It does seem like something was stolen (from me).” “Because I couldn’t break free from the cycle of trying to improve (the relationship) and find a solution to the problems we were having, it meant that I was giving up more and more of who I was as a person.

I would repeatedly give up on myself, and for a very long time, I felt as like I had completely lost something important to me. I’m still getting it back.”

In conclusion, “Alice, Darling” is a film that has been thoroughly researched and presents an authentic narrative of emotional abuse; yet, the film is not based on any real-life events or people.

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Alice, Darling: Recap

The psychological character study Alice, Darling investigates the type of abusive relationship that is not represented nearly as frequently — namely, one in which the victim suffers damage to their mental and emotional well-being rather than their physical body.

Anna Kendrick gives a wounded and vulnerable performance as a young woman who thinks her boyfriend loves her, only to slowly discover all of the ways in which his possessiveness is destroying her self-esteem and eroding her well-being. Kendrick’s character is played by a young actress who thinks her boyfriend loves her.

Mary Nighy, who is making her directorial debut with a feature film, takes a story about three female friends who go on a trip together that appears to be carefree and changes it into a meditation on the subtle but major ways that women are put in danger on a daily basis.

The film examines how Alice progressively becomes conscious of the emotional torture that she has suffered, and Kendrick lends resonance to that progression through her performance.

On January 20, Alice, Darling will be released in theatres across the United Kingdom and the United States, following its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival and achieving an Oscar-qualifying run.

Kendrick is working in a vein that is more dramatic than is typical, and reviews that are positive should help improve attention for this low-budget and small-scale production.

Alice (Kendrick), who seems to have a happy existence, has a lover named Simon who is a successful artist.

Her profession also seems to be satisfying (Charlie Carrick). But Alice becomes anxious when her close friends Tess (played by Kaniehtiio Horn) and Sophie (played by Wunmi Mosaku) plan a holiday in the woods for just the three of them to celebrate Tess’ birthday. Alice tells Simon that she will be gone for a business trip.

Tess and Sophie come to the conclusion that Alice’s behaviour is erratic the more time they invest with her. It appears to them that Simon is exerting some sort of influence over Alice, despite the fact that he is located several miles away.

Alice, Darling
Alice, Darling

Alice, Darling: Ending Explained

  • The screenplay was penned by Alanna Francis, and it delves deep into the solitary anguish that Alice experiences within her own mind.
  • Kendrick’s anxious eyes and meek manner help communicate this woman’s anguish, documenting how the character has been systematically beaten down emotionally by Simon, who, as we learn through flashbacks, has constantly criticised her.
  • Kendrick’s performance documents how the character has been systematically beaten down emotionally by Simon. Even though Simon isn’t physically present with Alice and her companions, the editor Gareth C. Scales has included a few small moments from the past that feel like lingering hurts.
  • These moments make Simon feel intensely present in the story. But Alice, Darling contends that from Alice’s perspective, it is the same thing as if he were in the room.
  • This is a tricky narrative landscape that requires Kendrick to play a clever person who, despite this, has been brainwashed to a certain level.
  • The film relies heavily on her performance. The fact that the actress who was nominated for an Oscar is able to so neatly demonstrate Alice’s vivacity and intelligence while at the same time being hampered by these negative views about herself is a credit to her talent.
  • Kendrick, assisted by Horn and Mosaku’s lived-in performances, offers that transformation resonance, allowing Alice be weak so that finally she can be powerful. The film depicts how Alice gradually becomes conscious of the emotional trauma she’s undergone.
  • A side story about a missing local girl who becomes Alice’s obsession is introduced at the same time, which is an intriguing choice on the part of the filmmakers.
  • Alice, Darling makes the suggestion, without going overboard with the metaphor, that the story’s protagonist recognises in this youngster a fellow disturbed woman and is drawn to help her even before she comes to the realisation that she, herself, needs help.
  • This subplot is delicately weaved into the main drama, as is the unexpected reappearance of Simon, who is played with an abundance of charm by Carrick. It is a striking performance that highlights how many perpetrators of abuse come seem as upstanding and compassionate guys, with their darker goals only being revealed after they have gained their victims’ trust.
  • Alice, Darling, with the assistance of Owen Pallett’s occasionally tense score, can sometimes have the faint air of a thriller, albeit one in which the primary threat is offscreen and far removed from Alice and her pals. But Kendrick, who has stated that she has been the victim of psychological abuse in a previous relationship, creates tragedies out of Alice’s internal turmoil.
  • Alice tears her hair out compulsively, checks her phone repeatedly to see whether Simon is looking for her, and then mulls over the possibility of leaving work early in order to avoid leaving Simon alone for an extended period of time.
  • In spite of the fact that Alice’s codependent behaviour can be extremely irritating to Tess and Sophie, it appears that both they and the movie are aware of an important aspect of unhealthy relationships: the fact that the wounds may not be as visible as they would be in a situation where one partner is physically abusive, but they are still present all the same.

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