Director
Josephine Decker

Starring
Elisabeth Moss, Odessa Young and Michael Stuhlbarg

Shirley is the odd, sort of biographical film about acclaimed horror writer Shirley Jackson (Elisabeth Moss), whose works included The Haunting of Hill House and Hangsaman, of which the writing of is a key element to this film.  Shirley blends elements of truth with a fictionalised story of a young married couple, Rose and Fred (played by Australian actress Odessa Young and Logan Lerman), who move in with Shirley and her husband, literary critic Stanley Hyman (Michael Stuhlbarg), while Fred begins a new job at the same university that Stanley teaches at. Soon Rose is asked to act as a housekeeper/carer for an ailing Shirley, which takes a psychological toll on the new bride.

The thing with this movie is that it’s rare to come across biographical story where all of the subjects are so completely unlikable. Elisabeth Moss does an incredible job at morphing into the grotesque and spiteful Jackson, who takes delight in attacking others insecurities and creating a level of discomfort in all of her interactions. Stuhlbarg similarly is able to perfectly channel the sleaze and low-key malevolence of Hyman. It would be fair to say that this is less of a biopic and more of a gothic character study. We don’t really get to explore Jackson as an artist, but get a small glimpse into the sad and twisted existence that became of her later years.

There is a lot to appreciate about the film beyond its story. If I can be certain of one thing, it is that Elisabeth Moss will soon find herself in a role that will win her an Oscar. Since really announcing herself in Mad Men, Moss has made a name for herself in a serious way on the small screen. With awards for her work in The Handmaid’s Tale and Top of the Lake, it was never going to be long until she started to get the types of lead performances she deserved in film projects. In the past 12 months alone, she’s stood out in both (the grossly underrated) The Kitchen and The Invisible Man, but it’s this performance that has really cemented her spot as a heavyweight in the acting arena. She is both repulsive and mesmerizing as Jackson, which is no easy feat. It’s definitely the performances that draw you in to this film; Young and Lerman are both actors that we’ll see a lot more of over the coming years, and Moss and Young give off an almost Bette Davis and Anne Baxter, All About Eve vibe.

If one thing lets the film down it’s the underdeveloped story. Director Josephine Decker relies a little too much on the arty mystique that she’s tried to create, where there was an opportunity to really get her hands dirty and explore the psyche of the reclusive Jackson. After a while it begins to feel tiresome as the initial intrigue wears thin. Shirley isn’t a film to watch if you want a meaty story, or characters that you’ll connect with, but if you appreciate the art that is cinema, then this one is worth your time.

 3 Stars

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