Mayday Review: A Dreamlike Neverland With Badass Ladies

 

Release date: October 1, 2021
Running time: 90 minutes
Written and Directed by: Karen Cinorre
Starring: Grace Van Patten, Mia Goth, Soko, Havana Rose Liu, Théodore Pellerin, Juliette Lewis, Frano Maskovic, Zlatko Buric

Ana is transported to a dreamlike and dangerous land where she joins an army of girls engaged in a never-ending war. Though she finds strength in this exhilarating world, she realizes that she's not the killer they want her to be.

Mayday is a tough movie to judge as it does so much right.  The film has a dreamlike feel to it and a ton of mystery.  You don't really know where Ana has been transported to or who the strange soldier women that she meets there are, but you have an idea that this is going to be a weird one.  It really felt like a Neverland, with few rules, a ruthless mentality, but also a free spirited camaraderie between the ladies.  And I did like that these women were supportive of each other, pushing each other out of their comfort zone.  The film is a slow moving one that will appeal to a certain type of audience, but if you have the patience for it there is a lot to like here.  

The world itself is a beautiful one, with thick live oaks and a coastal feel that makes it seem like a type of paradise.  And the marriage of old, World War era technology with these strong women does make it feel like an entirely new world.  Ana comes from a more modern time, but where she ends up is definitely a slice of a dreamlike past.  And the world is accompanied by some equally dreamlike music, that gives the mysterious times an extra air of the unknown, but also makes the wonderful times that much more exhilarating.  And there are plenty of both as this story develops.  I liked seeing Ana become more confident and sure of herself, but also enjoyed seeing how that was accomplished.  Some of it was supportive, some of it was manipulative, but the various strategies did change her character overall.

But the world of Mayday is a mysterious one, and one that might not appeal to all.  The film doesn't have much of a drive, which is fine if you just want to spend time in this world and revel in the mystery, but those that are hoping for a more focused experience might be frustrated.  And although I did like the story, it was a very confusing one that ends without a ton of resolution.  There is growth and development, but the ending could leave you just as confused as when you started.  And the connection to the World War time is not very fleshed out.  It provided for some very interesting visuals and scenarios, but I was left wondering what it had to do with the overall story and situation.

Mayday's dreamlike world, strong female cast, and overall mystery make for a slow-burning and imaginative female escape to Neverland.

Rent it.

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Mayday is in theaters and on demand on October 1, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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