Anna has some fun with psychics. The writers crafted a world that is pretty much a mirror of our own save for the fact that “mental detectives” are commonplace when it comes to law enforcement. What is a mental detective, you may ask? A handful of people have the ability to enter peoples memories and they use this to help solve crime. Joe, (played by Mark Strong) is one of the best in the biz until memories of his wife’s death plague his memories to the point of mental whiplash. Desperate for cash after being out of the game for so long, he goes to his former boss Sebastian (Brian Cox) who puts him on the case of Anna (Taissa Farmiga, American Horror Story), a young privileged girl on a hunger strike. Upon further investigation, Joe discovers that Anna is incredibly bright and might not be as pure as she seems.
Anna might not be the best movie movie I’ve seen, even this year, but it’s definitely enjoyable. Written by veritable newbies, Guy and Martha Holmes, they do a good job at creating a neat and well-written thriller/mystery. They explain the premise very concisely and never bother to fully explore it and the ramifications it has on the world, instead focusing on the story on hand, which is the best way to go about it. Anna rides the lines of sociopathy but right when the viewer writes her off as an unhinged lunatic, a dangling plot thread is pulled taut and you are left feeling sympathetic for her. Numerous red herrings are interjected into the film and while it seems that there are a few tricks too many, the resolution is still sensible and keeps you dancing between your certainty of the situation.
The central cast is incredibly strong, especially for a smaller budget flick. Mark Strong is, for lack of a better word, strong in the lead role. It’s nice to see him as the good guy every once in a while and he does well in that role. He’s the standard tough guy but shows numerous signs of vulnerability, and he manages to bounce off of both of his co-stars during all of their meetings. Cox is a pleasant surprise, he’s only in the movie for a handful of minutes, but when he is he demands your attention. The real star is Farmiga, who plays the doe eyed girl with a slight malevolent streak brilliantly. She’s smart, sensual and cunning and never overplays any aspect of her character, instead nailing them with precision.
A lot of credit has to go to the crew and director as well. Along with great scoring and set design, Jorge Dorado (Orphan) uses his director prowess to create an intelligent and entertaining thrill ride. He never over indulges on the supernatural fringe of the plot, creates compelling characters with convincing chemistry in a short amount of time, and even ties everything in a neat little bow by the end of the movie.
To be short, Anna does well because of a fun idea and a strong cast. As far as supernatural thrillers go, it’s definitely higher up on the scale. Definitely better than Mindhunters. That’s a plus, right?
