Now knowns as Repression in some countries, Marionette is a thriller and mystery movie story akin to something like The Butterfly Effect. It also features a high-powered cast. Following a psychologist who treats young troubled kids, Marionette will have you wondering who is really pulling the strings. It will also have you asking if Manny can predict the future in this film. In the film’s first example of embracing the idea of free will, the story begins at the top of a very high structure. A man screams to the skies. He takes a match and lights himself on fire in an attempt to not be overtaken by something he feels is controlling him.
Marianne Winter played by Thekla Reuten (Red Sparrow) is introduced as a quietly spoken psychologist. She sits in a room filled with children’s drawings and talks to a small girl who sits on the floor. As Winter flicks through a large collection of dark and ominous pictures, it’s clear straight away.
The kids she treats have had some fairly damaging experiences. Angry black scrawls, car crashes, dark figures, pigs, and lots, and lots of screaming features in many of them. One of her other patients, Manny (Elijah Wolf) is the one that Marianne is most interested in. He spends more time drawing than talking. When he does have something to say, his agenda is to point out that he can control Marianne’s future among other creepy sentiments.
Marionette Lines Up a Time Loop Film
Marianne has moved to Scotland after an arduous and soul-crushing event. We learn about her backstory throughout the film, only connecting the dots in the final sequence. In the meantime, Elbert Van Strien and Ben Hopkins are the writers behind this mystery-laced thriller. They try to keep you out of the loop. Who is Manny and just how much power over one’s future does he really have? Is he just an innocent child damaged beyond repair or is there something more to his ominous scribbles and outbursts?
Marianne begins to form a new life for herself on the other side of the world. She balances between two identities. She is a professional therapist, and she also struggles with an idea that Manny has put in her head. While drawing one day, he tells her there is a gun in her drawer. Marianne challenges him and tells him there is not one. Days later, she checks the drawer and sees a revolver. When she asks Manny why he would know such a thing, he explains that seeing it made it real.
Marionette is the type of story that leads you down one path after the next. The dark landscape, the tumultuous weather, flashbacks, and Manny’s increasing anger reminded me of one of those snow globes. There isn’t a lot of room to move which forces the spotlight onto exactly what you need to be looking at instead of the confusion created by anything external.
“What I Can’t See, Can’t Hurt Me”
Quote from Marionette
Marionette Review Wrinkles in Time
Finally, the score for Marionette is barely there. This reinforces the idea that you aren’t supposed to be alerted to any one particular thing. It’s all about who is pulling the strings. You need to figure out whether what’s happening for Manny is the reality or whether it’s Marianne’s reality. The rest of the cast is utilized in such a diluted way, you’ll barely remember them. They are all big caliber weapons that serve their purpose, however. Peter Mullan (Tyrannosaur), Bill Patterson (Fleabag), and Emun Elliott (Prometheus) are involved. Many others also speak to the tight ship Marionette stakes claim to.
Overall, this story isn’t one that will astonish you with its groundbreaking new ideas, but it does break the rules from time to time. It’s an enjoyable and well-told movie. Marionette is speckled with ideas from lots of great tales about destiny, control, and one’s future being a force to be reckoned with.
I give Marionette aka Repression
3.5 what you can’t see can’t hurt you out of 5
Films Like Marionette That Play With Time
Reminiscence | The Toll | Dry Blood | Things Will Be Different and Volition are all films with either time temporal landscapes or time loops.
Mother of Movies acquired Marionette as a screener from Rock Salt Releasing. Marionette screened virtually at Cannes 2020, 24th July, repped by Rock Salt Releasing.
Where to Watch Repression / Marionette 2020
Repression aka Marionette 2020 is streaming on:
