Our favorite horror movies of 2024 🏆, 'Perfectly Good Moment' delivers Good for Her ending 💪, & more!
“I never expected Lauren Greenhall's Perfectly Good Moment to knock me on my back like it did. Streaming on Tubi, the indie feature tackles domestic violence with brutal honesty. It's a raw, infuriating experience as you witness Ruby's (Amanda Jane Stern) agonizing relationship with David (Stephen Carlile). David spends 95 percent of the story apologizing for his bad behavior, only to snap again in the very next moment. He lashes out at Ruby almost every time she speaks, makes a joke, or tries to leave. But Ruby has a diabolical plan to get sweet revenge on her abuser. As the film builds, it becomes clear that Ruby has been in control the entire time. It's a real Good For Her film that'll stay with you long after the credits have filled.”
Perfectly Good Moment (USA, 2024)
“As the film progresses, we get to see why the couple has been on and off for so long. It all boils down to one simple factor, and that’s obsession. David may seem like the charming knight in shining armor, but he has some very dangerous flaws. He has an obsessive nature that he can’t live without Ruby and tends to snap at even one simple question, always telling her how, as the title indicates, ruins a “perfectly good moment”. At least that’s according to him.
However, the end of the second act brings out a turn that at first reading the plot, seems predictable. However, what Stern did with the screenplay was ingenious as she resorts to using a method I never expected. And that’s what makes this better than most of these typical thrillers that have that “revenge” factor. Stern and director Lauren Greenhall bring something fresh and exciting to the mix. You’ll want to be rooting for Ruby the whole film out.
Perfectly Good Moment may sound like a typical Lifetime thriller of sorts, but it delves into something more ingenuous and fresh to the love-revenge angle with an amazing performance and script by Amanda Jane Stern. Definitely worth checking out!”
‘PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT’ IS MADE UP OF SEVERAL EXCEPTIONAL MOMENTS
“When this clicks into place for the viewer, it allows us the joy of anticipation. Ruby’s here to get over on David and to revisit eight years of suffering on him. Her stilted responses become the careful movement of a hunter. This isn’t a gauzy, dreamy, erotic drama. This is a “good for her” revenge picture, which thrills the audience with the resourcefulness of the lead, like TILL DEATH or FRESH.
I’ve read some comparisons of this film to Black Mirror, and I think those stop short of exploring what Greenhall and Stern are getting at here. When the trap closes on David in the third act, yes, modern cyberpunk connected technology is used on him. What makes David so horrifying and makes revenge on him so satisfying for the audience is his eagerness to strip Ruby of agency and authority. For him, she’s an empty avatar to be bent to his will. When she talks about something he isn’t interested in or didn’t directly prompt, his response feels like a video game player mashing ‘skip’ on dialogue they don’t care about. David feels like the cartoonish end state evolution of a culture that lauds and reinforces patriarchal controls and technological advancement that encourages dehumanization altogether. This isn’t reminiscent of Black Mirror because tech is the trap used on David. This is reminiscent of Black Mirror because its character study shows us how we’ve already used technology to bring out the worst in us and close ourselves off to empathy. The world is littered with Davids.”
Film review: Perfectly Good Moment
“Perfectly Good Moment is a fantastic directorial debut from Lauren Greenhall. It has an admirable confidence and exudes a level of inventiveness and emotional residence that truly is a stand out.
Throughout the film a tense knot builds in your stomach yet the intriguing story dangles its string before you. At any moment, a simple mistake could turn this on its head as anger and obsession balance precariously.
Their toxic relationship is explored in numerous fashions, delivered at different times, all in David’s apartment. Their sexual chemistry is electric but the power dynamics at play ring even stronger, as David’s overbearing presence smothers Ruby, hoping that this time, he will keep her here for good.
Stephen Carlile is remarkable. He hones in on this character, through all of his quirks and cruelties, with conviction. Amanda Jane Stern has a natural charm that she oscillates with an enigmatic allure. You don’t always know what Ruby is thinking, but you want to.”
Dead Northern 2023 Review – Perfectly Good Moment
“Devotion, intensity, desire, all the small details that make a relationship burst with passion also have the potential to turn poisonous, embedding romance with toxicity. Victim to this cruel spate of love is Ruby (Amanda Jane Stern), who has been with her on-and-off partner David (Stephen Carlilse) for eight years. After a six-month break, Ruby returns to David, hoping for another chance of reconciliation. However, this time round the pair might not make it for another reunion.
Perfectly Good Moment captures the cinematic brilliance of tense, psychosexual thrillers, as director Lauren Greenhall weaponises the small cast to create an intimate and uncomfortably close environment where the deep seeded trauma of the narrative thrives; particularly at the hands of Ruby. David’s bond with Ruby is rife with manipulation: demanding her on what to do, how to act, how to live. Yet, rather than Greenhall, simply ‘showing’ the pattern of abuse in the archetypal way, she develops Ruby’s character with a spark of agency. Whilst the gritty details are best left to the viewer’s surprise, what can be noted is that Perfectly Good Moment bites back, unveiling ‘hidden’ abuse and showing that Ruby (representing all women) are not weak, feeble beings willing to put up with the David’s of the world.”
FILM PREVIEW: PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT
“Amanda Jane Stern and Stephen Carlile not only give stellar performances , but create varying tension between them as we move through their story. It’s so palpable it feels as though the relationship itself is a character in and of itself that holds them in thrall. His abuse escalates from the emotional and mental abuse of dismissing her and her job to something far more dangerous.
Every moment of Perfectly Good Moment shows the passion and dedication to the story and a reverence for the feelings and experiences that inspired it. I admire its bravery and emotional intelligence, and the fearless performances of Stern and Carlile make this film a must-watch for those who wish the standard May-December romance story was retold from the feminine perspective. Carlile gives an amazing performance as the insecure control-seeking David, who is ultimately seeking of a life made of only perfectly good moments. Stern shines as Ruby – not only is she able to embody the naive, craving young woman who meets David – but also the abuse-tempered Ruby who returns to see David again. . .”
PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT: Haunting Psychological Thriller
“Amanda Jane Stern‘s writing captures the nuance of life and relationships. So often, abusive relationships in films focus only on the physical, while emotional abuse is just as haunting and terrifying.”
“Amanda Jane Stern‘s performance as Ruby perfectly represents the unease women feel trapped in abusive relationships. Each subtle flinch and movement to turn her eyes away from David–afraid she will light up even more anger within him–is powerful and relatable.”
“Stephen Carlile‘s performance captures the character’s creepy qualities from David and Ruby’s first introduction, and this unease the audience feels toward David never subsides, even in moments before Ruby realizes she needs to escape.”
“The structure of Perfectly Good Moment adds to the film’s allure and makes the twist that much more impactful and engaging. Watching Ruby work her way out from under an abusive relationship that she felt she could never be free from is empowering and Perfectly Good Moment is a great example of revenge cinema. The twist works well and is foreshadowed through clever dialogue and visual moments of unexplained horror, until it all comes together in the end.”
Perfectly Good Moment Review: A Perfectly Good Movie
“This review might be best read after seeing the movie, as it will cover major plot twists.
Perfectly Good Moment is a psychological thriller that stars Stephen Carlile and Amanda Jane Stern (who also wrote the screenplay) as Ruby and David, the couple at the center of the film's story. The prologue, the only point in the movie besides the very end that features more than just the two actors, depicts how they met at Business Students Alumni Mixer. The rest of the movie is then spent examining their relationship, diving deeper and deeper into its toxicity and danger.
A film abruptly shifting genre isn't necessarily a bad thing, and Perfectly Good Moment handles it well. It's also a very talky movie, the kind that could be easily turned into a stage play, which might turn some people off for a very different reason. However, the performances from Carlile and Stern are captivating. The film's direction by Lauren Greenhall, making her narrative feature debut, was also very well-done.”
Perfectly Good Moment Film Threat Review
“Perfectly Good Moment is a very well-crafted thriller that is tightly constructed in its editing and beautifully shot. The picture predominantly takes place in David’s apartment. Despite the single location, there is a lot of use of creative camera movement that makes it appealing to the eyes. The love scenes are also executed tastefully in how they are shot. Additionally, the duo acting team of Stern and Carlile are fantastic in their portrayals. Both characters are people with dual personalities and are played with great subtlety. As screenwriters, Stern and Seltzer have written a raw and honest thriller about relationships that is refreshing. Furthermore, director Lauren Greenhall does an excellent job blocking her actors and camera to create a dynamic experience.”
Lauren Greenhall's Stunning Romantic, Revenge Drama, PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT, To Celebrate Its UK Premiere at Unrestricted View Film Festival
“PERFECTLY GOOD MOMENT is not just a gripping thriller, but also a beautifully cinematic experience. The film creates a distinct atmosphere that draws the viewer in and holds them captive throughout the story. The use of color palettes in each act, combined with the skillful direction and cinematography, brings the characters and their struggles to life on the screen.
Amanda Jane Stern and Stephen Carlile, effortlessly convey the complexities of their characters, making them feel real and relatable. The chemistry between them is palpable, and the emotional depth they bring to their roles is gorgeous to watch.”
Better than perfect, Amanda Jane Stern breaks out in starring role, screenplay for “Perfectly Good Moment”
“With the gripping thriller “Perfectly Good Moment” hitting the San Francisco Independent Film Festival this month, the independent film world has an opportunity to appreciate its star Amanda Jane Stern – a talent who has been acting in films for two decades since she was a child but who has finally found her first starring role in a feature she wrote and produced.
Which is baffling for a 29-year-old actress who resembles a mix of Julianne Moore and Ann-Margret with the determined confidence of Reese Witherspoon and the occasional, mischievous high-brow air of Christina Ricci.”