The Aviary (2022 film)

Last updated
The Aviary
The Aviary poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
  • Chris Cullari
  • Jennifer Raite
Screenplay by
  • Chris Cullari
  • Jennifer Raite
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyElie Smolkin
Edited byDavid Bilow
Music byZac Clark
Production
companies
  • The Forest Road Company
  • Catchlight Studios
  • Stagecoach Entertainment
  • Pacesetter Productions International
Distributed by Saban Films
Release date
  • April 29, 2022 (2022-04-29)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Aviary is a 2022 American thriller film written and directed by Chris Cullari and Jennifer Raite. It stars Malin Akerman, Sandrine Holt, Lorenza Izzo, and Chris Messina.

Contents

It was released on April 29, 2022, by Saban Films to mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

Two women escape from a dangerous cult into the New Mexican desert. They fear the cult's charming and controlling leader might be following them. With dwindling supplies and fraying nerves, they must confront the challenge of evading an enemy who seems to haunt their thoughts.

Cast

Production

The Aviary was written and directed by Chris Cullari and Jennifer Raite in their feature film debut. [1] The cult portrayed in the film was inspired by NXIVM and Theranos. [2]

In addition to starring in the film, Akerman also served as executive producer. [3]

Release

In December 2021, Saban Films acquired distribution rights to the film. [3] It was released on April 29, 2022. [4]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Aviary has a 63% approval rating based on 27 reviews, and an average rating of 5.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Aviary's adroitly assembled cast lends extra weight to an uneven depiction of how dangerous cults can be." [5] On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating reviews from mainstream critics, the film has a score of 57 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [6]

Noel Murray of the Los Angeles Times praised the cast and considered the film a "strong feature filmmaking debut" from Cullari and Raite. Murray wrote, "If anything, the movie's biggest weakness is that much of the running time consists of Jillian and Blair's exhausted conversations out in the wilderness ... But an excellent cast and some skillful direction goes a long way toward making The Aviary feel genuinely revealing." [7] Steve Davis of The Austin Chronicle wrote, "[The movie is] eventually undermined by an ever-exhausting concept that might have worked better as an hourlong episode in an anthology series. With a little fine-tuning, the ending would have packed a bigger wallop in a truncated version eliminating a coda that only serves to explain the title. " [8]

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References

  1. ↑ Wilbur, Brock (2022-05-19). "Cult escape drama The Aviary gets as lost as its characters". The Pitch . Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  2. ↑ Wright, William J. (2022-05-17). "Filmmakers Chris Cullari and Jennifer Raite take flight with 'The Aviary'". Rue Morgue . Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  3. 1 2 Grater, Tom (2021-12-15). "Saban Films Buys North America & More On Thriller 'The Aviary' Starring Malin Akerman". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  4. ↑ Romanchick, Shame (2022-03-21). "'The Aviary': Trailer and Poster Revealed for Horror Film About Desert Cultists". Collider . Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  5. ↑ "The Aviary". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  6. ↑ "The Aviary Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  7. ↑ Murray, Noel (2022-04-29). "Review: Marilyn Monroe, 'Turning Red' and other movies to watch this weekend". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2023-10-14.
  8. ↑ Davis, Steve (2022-04-29). "The Aviary". The Austin Chronicle . Retrieved 2023-10-14.
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