Despite all the critical kudos, I was deeply, deeply wary of watching the psychological horror film "Swallow." It has so many elements that set off my alarm bells, with a premise built around the body horror of its heroine, a pregnant woman, who develops a condition called pica - where she compulsively swallows non-food items. I was intrigued, but so unnerved by the gastrointestinal abuse that I put off the film for months. However, I kept reading the reviews and recommendations, and getting more and more interested. Finally, I went as far as to read the entire plot synopsis (with spoilers) on Wikipedia to steel myself for the film's content.
Haley Bennett plays Hunter, a young woman recently married to a wealthy young man named Richie (Austin Stowell). Her life looks perfect from the outside, but Hunter feels stifled by expectations. One day, shortly after learning she's pregnant, she impulsively swallows a marble. This is followed by other objects, many of them larger and more dangerous. Soon Richie and his parents (David Rasche, Elizabeth Marvel) are forcing Hunter to see a therapist (Lauren Velez), and have hired an intimidating Syrian man, Luay (Laith Nakli), to keep an eye on her. Still, her condition worsens, prompting Hunter to take matters into her own hands.
What I had expected from "Swallow" was queasiness and gore. However, writer/director Carlo Mirabella-Davis provides something far more measured and complex. Hunter's condition is a product of her environment and upbringing, which is slowly revealed through her conversations with other characters. The film is very good about keeping its cards close to the vest. Haley Bennett turns in an excellent performance as Hunter, a quiet, deferential young woman who keeps insisting that she just wants to make her husband happy. Her disappointment and unhappiness with her life is plain, but she seems to have no idea how to express what she actually wants. We only see her happy in her moments of self-harm, which take on a ritualistic quality. She fixates on everyday objects - a thumbtack caught in the vacuum cleaner, a handful of potting soil, a battery - which become important and exciting under her gaze. The physical swallowing scenes are difficult to watch, but also have a hypnotic quality to them.
"Swallow" has been described in most of its press as a horror or thriller film, but it rarely follows the conventions of these films. It's primarily a character study of Hunter, exploring the ins and outs of her psyche as she struggles to understand her new urges and desires. The threats to her well-being are in plain sight, but are nonetheless difficult for her to spot. I should caution that the film is in no way a serious examination of pica or the associated mental disorders. It's also not really a story about pregnancy or motherhood either. Rather, these elements are used in a symbolic fashion to bring certain truths about Hunter to light. It's not until the final scene and the final things we watch her swallow that the allegory becomes clear.
The film's production design, full of opulence and bright colors, is a marvel. There's a dated dollhouse quality to many of the visuals, especially the interior decoration and Hunter's doll-like appearance. Everything looks so beautiful and so perfect, you don't realize how oppressive the environment is until the characters finally venture out of these spaces. Mirabella-Davis mostly plays it straight, but I do appreciate the little touches of absurdity that find their way into the narrative - Richie's appalling insensitivity, everything that shows up on the television screens, and all the business involving the potting soil.
There were enough moments of sensitive content, however, that make me pause when considering who I would recommend this film to. Horror audiences shouldn't have a problem with it, but I don't think that's who "Swallow" is aimed at. The strong heroine and feminist vibes would surely be best appreciated by female moviegoers. On the other hand, I know I'd have trouble getting many women in my social circle to take a look due to the subject matter. I suspect that "Swallow" is destined to become a cult film, beloved by cinephiles with strong nerves, and stronger stomachs.
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