Vertigo Releasing presents Audrey on UK and Ireland digital platforms from March 17, 2025.
Synopsis
After her daughter falls into a coma, self-appointed “Mother of the Year” Ronnie Lipsick (Jackie van Beek) takes the opportunity and assumes her daughter’s identity to keep their dreams alive.
Review
For her directorial debut, filmmaker Natalie Bailey, best known for her work on shows such as The Thick of It and Veep, delivers a bitingly cynical black comedy in the form of Audrey. When handled right, black comedies can be hilarious and have something to say in a dark and unforgiving manner. This film succeeds in one of those areas but forgets about the other along the way.
To begin with, this film shows a lot of potential, presenting a lot of dry and snarky Australian humour that doesn’t necessarily hit the mark but at least gives you a taste of what to expect. However, where the film falls flat is in how far it takes its scathing cynicism both in terms of its comedy and its characters.
Films or TV shows that focus on dislikable characters can usually find ways to give these individuals an arc of some kind or a moment to have them open up emotionally, which allows the audience to find a way in and care about them. A lot of the entertainment and humour will often come from their harsh mannerisms and rudeness but having a layer of connection makes these characters more grounded and, to an extent relatable, as you can tell where these horrible behaviours come from.
Audrey attempts this with the main family at the centre of the story but lacks that small bit of empathy that should make them endearing. The mum, the father and even the two daughters are constantly trying to outdo one another or mess up their lives purely for personal gain and selfish interests. These characters are continually unlikable to each other as well as those around them and the few times they either function like a normal family or show any emotional depth is again fuelled by selfish ambition or is purely existent due to someone else’s misery.
Each family member has their own set of problems to deal with, but even in the way these are dealt with can feel forced, pointless or downright mean-spirited. For example, Cormack, the father of the family, has his own subplot that starts with good intentions and does get some laughs down to just how weird it goes, but even this story ends in a manner that feels somewhat unfulfilling in the long run. Even side characters that you would expect to have some relatability are just as selfish and cruel as the protagonists.
The film does have some redeeming aspects. The direction and cinematography as a whole are fun and, at times, can get rather creative with how it portrays certain scenarios. Also, for what it’s worth, the style of comedy that the film goes for does have one or two moments that work, but they are unfortunately short-lived. It’s very much a type of humour that will work for some and not so much for others, and it’s safe to say that I am one of those people it didn’t click with.
Audrey had the potential to be a solid little black comedy with the typical indie filmmaking charm that these films usually come with, but that is not the case here. All this film has to offer is some solid performances from Jackie van Beek, Hannah Diviney and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor as well as some decent direction from Natalie Bailey. Everything else the film goes for is too scathing to be enjoyed and too cynical and self-absorbed to warrant caring about. There is a good film somewhere in here but its so wrapped up in its own sneering tendencies that it loses sight of what else it’s supposed to be doing.
Verdict
Despite some solid direction from Natalie Bailey, Audrey ultimately falls short in its comedy and likability, which is a shame as it shows a lot of promise in its initial premise.
⭐⭐.5
