‘Alice, Darling,’ directed by Mary Nighy and featuring Anna Kendrick as Alice, tackles the complex issue of coercive control. This form of domestic abuse, which involves a pattern of behavior used to exert power over a partner, is the central theme of the film. Mary Nighy and screenwriter Alanna Francis focused the story on the psychological aspects of abuse, consciously avoiding scenes of physical violence to keep the film aligned with its fundamental message.
Anna Kendrick’s role as Alice provides insight into the life of an individual ensnared in a psychologically abusive relationship. In the film, Kendrick’s character is a 30-year-old woman caught in a manipulative relationship with Simon, portrayed by British actor Charlie Carrick.
Subtle Control
Initially, Simon appears like a doting boyfriend. His actions like sending a “thinking of me?” text adorned with a kissing emoji, draping his arm around her protectively, and gently urging her to aim higher in her career appear, at first, to be signs of care and affection.
However, as the narrative progresses, glimpses of Simon’s manipulative behavior emerge, particularly through its impact on Alice. We observe her compulsively removing almost all of her body hair, reciting statistics about the harms of sugar, practicing lies about meeting her friends to avoid his criticism and approaching intimacy as a duty.
Alice displays clear signs of the intense stress caused by her relationship with Simon. The pressure of deceiving him about spending time with her friends, whom he doesn’t approve of, leads to her vomiting; similarly, misplacing an earring, which she sees as proof of her inadequacy, triggers a severe and overwhelming panic attack.
Non-Physical Abuse
Simon is never physically abusive, a fact Alice uses to downplay the gravity of her situation to her two closest friends. “He doesn’t hit me though,” she tells Tess and Sophie, who gradually come to understand how Simon’s insecurities and controlling behavior have significantly diminished Alice’s sense of self and independence.
A spokesperson for the charity Women’s Aid said: “Women in abusive relationships aren’t always aware that their relationship is unhealthy, and abusive partners often isolate a woman from her friends and support network, where conversations about relationships can often identify when things aren’t quite right.” [via the BBC]
One key moment in the film occurs when Tess and Sophie stage an intervention of sorts, convincing Alice to join them on a brief getaway. Their worry intensifies when Simon turns up unexpectedly at their holiday cottage, revealing he had checked Alice’s emails and tracked her location. It’s ultimately Tess and Sophie’s concern and support that help Alice recognize the true nature of her relationship with Simon.
‘Alice, Darling’ stands out for its nuanced portrayal of abuse, emphasizing that the absence of physical marks does not diminish the reality of a victim’s suffering. The film engages deeply with the subject of coercive control, highlighting the critical issue of belief and support for victims who bear no visible scars. It is a poignant reminder of the invisible chains of coercive control and the strength it takes to break free.
Featured image: Alice with Simon in the film ‘Alice, Darling. Image: YouTube Screenshot / Lionsgate Movies.
