'Nocturne' film review: Expectations, ambition & resentment coalesce in this dark cautionary tale
Sibling rivalry takes a sinister and ominous turn in the supernatural horror 'Nocturne' (streaming on Amazon Prime Video starting Oct. 13 as part of the Welcome to the Blumhouse anthology).
In short: Gifted but overlooked pianist Juliet (Sydney Sweeney) finds a mysterious notebook that gives her an edge over her sister Vivian (Madison Iseman) at a prestigious institution for classical musicians.
On paper, the story of a student pianist competing to perform at a recital isn't exactly the stuff of magnetic loglines, but within the film's opening 10 minutes, 'Nocturne' firms its grip on the audience by clearly defining Juliet's status (even within her own family) as a participant and never a winner. Yes, fundamentally this is the story of quiet, demure Juliet's ambition and the cost of her goals - but 'Nocturne' works because its firmly rooted in Juliet's transformation from passive wallflower to driven soloist. Despite it becoming increasingly obvious that the mysterious notebook is (at the very least) eerie, Juliet is compelled by her agonizing sense of inadequacy and near invisibility.
The true horror of 'Nocturne' is living a life of mediocrity and the existing in the shadow of perceived greatness. Sweeney is kind of heartbreaking as the overlooked Lowe sister, literally the page-turner to her more acclaimed soloist sister. She embodies the pain and subdued resentment of a sibling who has spent her entire life eclipsed by her twin sister in virtually every way. Sweeney carries herself with the body language of a young woman resigned to near invisibility, but as the film progresses, her nuanced performance gives Juliet an edge that belies an underlying bitterness that boils to the surface as she descends deeper into darkness. 'Nocturne' itself critiques the harsh expectations placed upon students - and the even more intense pressure students place on themselves.
In an alternate universe, one where Juliet never finds the ominous notebook, it's all too easy to imagine Juliet settling for a mundane life playing piano in the background. But the notebook gives her a taste of greatness, of the spotlight and notice from those Juliet admires. This tantalizing taste of approval is all it takes to awaken Juliet's dormant competitiveness and bitterness. The notebook is simply the symbolic device representing everything Juliet is willing to sacrifice in her quest for greatness.
If there’s any deficiency with ‘Nocturne,’ it’s that the film gets mired and loses momentum in the second act. This is yet another case of a film that might have been better served as a long short film, but just feels a bit padded with narrative filler just so the movie can barely cross the 90 minute runtime threshold.
Final verdict: This slow burn of a supernatural horror empathizes with anyone whose reach exceeded their grasp.
Score: 3.5/5
'Nocturne' is available on Amazon Prime Video on Oct. 13. This supernatural horror flick is unrated and has a running time of 90 minutes.
