But Lungin is no amateur, and the torrid tone starts making more sense as the story evolves beyond realism into something more artfully stylized. The opening act will test viewer endurance with its soapy emotional dynamics and broad-bush archetypes, especially Sofia, a cackling femme fatale who appears to be channeling Cruella de Vil. ![]() The Queen of Spades has a kind of fruity, oversaturated, borderline-camp mania that feels all too Russian at first. Sofia then seduces Andrey in full view of Lisa, creating an explosive sexual tension which reaches its murderous crescendo when all three are onstage during the climactic opera scenes. A Machiavellian manipulator with a heart of ice, Sofia initiates her young disciple into a glamorous late-night shadow world of illegal high-stakes casinos, where he soon develops a gambling addiction and unwisely makes Faustian deals with brutal gangland godfathers. Gifted with the freakish ability to shatter glass with his powerful voice ever since he was pushed into a frozen lake as a child, the obsessive Andrey slowly insinuates his way into the playing the male lead in The Queen of Spades. Sofia also sees potential in Lisa’s broodingly intense boyfriend Andrey (Ivan Yankovsiy), an amateur tenor who has idolized the diva all his life. To help realize her grand schemes, she recruits wealthy oligarchs, shady gangsters and her grudgingly cooperative twentysomething niece Lisa ( Mariya Kurdenovich). The results are okay, but mildly annoying by the finale.After decades in self-imposed exile, legendary soprano Sofia Meyer ( Kseniya Rappoport) returns to Moscow to rebuild her reputation by directing and starring in The Queen of Spades, the Tchaikovsky opera which made her famous. There is an epilogue scene that raises far more questions than the film can afford.ĭirector White does stage a few good jump scares and maintains a solid, moody atmosphere throughout. Sometimes other characters don’t react in ways that feel appropriate to the situation.įor that matter, exactly what the Queen of Spades is and how she operates seems to morph. However, Smirnov and Mary are both all over the place as characters, going back and forth on what they believe and what they’re willing to do multiple times. Likewise, Ohm puts conviction into everything she does as protective parent Mary. Kash gives a fine performance as a troubled expert and the young leads are all good. This is where QUEEN OF SPADES gets a bit wobbly. Sebastian tries to figure out how to save himself and his friends by contacting a man named Smirnov (Daniel Kash), who has written a book on the subject. It doesn’t take long for all four to realize that they have indeed summoned the Queen of Spades, who is definitely not at peace. On the other hand, we can buy Anna wanting to make a wish and wanting to impress the older boys, and the older boys being fame-seeking dolts. Now, on the one hand, our protagonists did just see someone kill himself over the Queen. He and Matt persuade Anna to do a summoning ritual for the Queen of Spades, who is supposed to grant wishes if she’s at peace, but kill her summoners if she is agitated. Over Katy’s sensible objections, Sebastian researches “Queen of Spades” and finds the Russian mythology. Before the youth dies of his injuries, he mentions “the Queen of Spades.” While the quartet are in a park, they witness a fellow teen pacing the roof of a recreation center, then jumping to his death. Sebastian (Eric Osborne) and Matt (Nabil Rajo) are hoping to strike it rich with YouTube videos. Katy (Jamie Bloch) often babysits Anna when Mary isn’t home at night. Her mother, Mary (Kaelen Ohm), is loving but working as a janitor to make ends meet while taking classes in hopes of a better life for them both.Īnna hangs out with a trio of seventeen-year-olds who live in the building. Thirteen-year-old Anna (Ava Preston) is a latchkey kid in a huge urban apartment complex. It starts reasonably enough, but then starts to feel arbitrary as it proceeds. The new QUEEN OF SPADES is directed by Patrick White, who co-wrote the screenplay with John Ainsley. ![]() That movie’s writer/director, Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy, receives a “story by” credit here. This QUEEN OF SPADES is a new American remake of the 2015 Russian film QUEEN OF SPADES: THE DARK RITE (PIKOVAYA DAMA, CHYORNYY OBRYAD). The Queen is a figure out of Russian folklore (as explained in the film), much like Bloody Mary is for Americans. QUEEN OF SPADES is an entry in the subgenre of horror in which a demonic entity is summoned by chanting its name into a mirror. Writers: Patrick White, John Ainsley, story by Svyatoslav Podgaevskiy Stars: Ava Preston, Kaelen Ohm, Jamie Bloch, Daniel Kash, Eric Osborne, Nabil Rajo, Krista Marchand ![]() QUEEN OF SPADES movie poster | ©2021 Epic Pictures
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