Short Attention Span Review - Sweetheart (2019)

Short Attention Span Review - Sweetheart (2019)

Running a scant 82 minutes, Sweetheart plunges the viewer into a desperate situation in the opening shot, and steadily increases the stakes until a blistering finale.  A survival opus married to a creature feature, the production values are sound if not spectacular, and the script is razor-sharp.  Most importantly, as this is largely a one-woman show, star Kiersey Clemons reveals herself as a force to be reckoned with.  Vulnerable, plucky, determined, desperate, and ultimately quite the badass, Clemon brings her character to life in stunning fashion.  This is what elevates Sweetheart, as being lean and mean, and even a bit innovative, honestly doesn't amount to much without a spark.  Clemons lights a fire, and as a result, Blumhouse has provided horror fans with another winner.  Victim to a relatively quiet release, this is a picture that could emerge as quite the sleeper.  I, for one, would love to see multiple elements of this riveting thriller explored in greater detail, though I never felt anything less than satisfied with this script or the director J. D. Dillard's no-frills dedication to shipping the freight.  The creature design is a bit more of a success than the effects work, though there are numerous instances where the effects stand tall.  Yes, there are a few mishaps on that front as well, but a top-shelf monster movie is seldom without blemishes.  The setting is as beautiful as the action is frantic, and the score is most certainly an asset to this production.  It is possible, if not likely, that Sweetheart hasn't pinged on your radar yet, but just take this horror aficionado's word for it: this unheralded descent into survival horror is a wicked little jaunt with an awful lot of juice.

Final Grade: B+

Sweetheart is the very epitome of a lean, mean chiller.  And I'm cool with that.