3 stars out of 5
Last time I wrote about a French thriller, and because I’m a goofball, I nearly made a joke about French ticklers — but ultimately thought the better of it. Sanctuary, however, could use a tickler or two to spice things up. I have been a fan of Margaret Qualley since The Leftovers, and after all the abuse she took in Maid, I was eager to see her taking charge as a dominatrix in Sanctuary. I’d read it was a dark comedy, which is right up my (qu)alley. But really, it’s more of a psychological thriller and battle-of-the-sexes/David vs. Goliath satire, while not being wholly successful at any of it.
Qualley is Rebecca, high-end dominatrix. Christopher Abbott, who I didn’t know before and won’t remember after, is Hal, hotel-chain heir. Rebecca feels that, for all the — ahem — work she’s done with Hal, she is entitled to a share of his massive inheritance. Hal disagrees. Now, from here, they could’ve gone in a more comedic War of the Roses direction, or else amped up the dark sexiness a la Body Heat or Body Double. But the writing (by a guy whose previous experience is primarily in the sound department) and direction (by a guy with only one prior feature credit) just isn’t sharp or smart enough to pull off either. All we seem to get, repeatedly, is “she is surprisingly good at business, and he isn’t!”
Also, as the great majority of the movie is set in one hotel suite, it feels much more like a play, with the inherent too-much talkiness. Though the claustrophobia does add to the rising sense of tension.
Qualley is reliably solid — her inner confidence serves the character well. She’s looking more and more like mom Andie MacDowell, and I’m waiting for Sarah Sherman to do a wicked impression of her on SNL.
This is one you can likely wait till it’s streaming, and unfortunately, won’t have to worry much if the kids walk in.
Jack Silbert, curator