Film Review: ‘Girl’ May be Bella Thorne’s Greatest Performance to Date

n recent movie history, badass female leads have been more prevalent. From Gal Gadot’s portrayal of Wonder Woman to Zoey Deutch’s provocative depiction of Peg Dahl in Buffaloed, powerful women captivate audiences. In Chad Faust’s new motion picture Girl, the male actor tells the story of a strong woman that easily joins the ranks of other resilient women in film.

Girl follows Girl, played by Bella Thorne, as she ventures to find her estranged and abusive father in attempts to protect her mother. What Girl finds when she tracks down her father leads to a dangerous cat and mouse chase and a series of family scandals that she attempts to uncover.

A hugely impressive note for the film regards the director and writer, Chad Faust. Faust has an acting career that spans over multiple decades, including recognizable films such as Saved! and television series such as House. More recently, Faust has been featured in a handful of shorts, such as Brandon and Warped. The actor has also written and directed a few short films over the years. Luckily, he also decided to dip into the world of directing and writing a feature film, with Girl being his first. However, Girl feels like a motion picture that has been written and directed by someone who has made multiple feature-length films. Faust inserts his distinct style into every aspect of this accomplished movie. He manages to craft a film that is the perfect mix of disturbing, stressful, tragic, and feels unlike any other movies that have been released before.

Acting in the film as well, Faust plays Charmer, a character that gives anyone who watches a spine-tingling, creepy energy. Through his acting, viewers see the same unique style that Faust brings to the entire film as a director. Charmer is a very complex character that changes multiple times throughout the 96-minute-runtime and Faust is the perfect choice for an actor who can achieve this feat.

However, the shining star of the film is easily Bella Thorne. In what may be her best performance yet, Thorne shows audiences that she is an actress that should be celebrated. Playing a strong, rough-and-tumble young woman in search of answers and revenge, her performance is gripping, heartbreaking, and unforgettable. Thorne is no stranger to acting, having been featured in a variety of movies including Infamous and Midnight Sun to name a few. On top of that, Thorne can be found in multiple television series such as Scream: The TV Series and Big Love, among others. Adding to her already impressive resume, Thorne also has a music career, all by the young age of 23. By the end of the film, Thorne’s show stopping portrayal reaches a striking climax that viewer’s will reflect upon and remember long after the film has finished. If there was ever a performance that Thorne should receive award recognition for—maybe even Oscar buzz—it is this one. 

The talent in this film is seemingly endless. Adding to the impressive roster, Mickey Rourke boasts a chilling, disturbing performance as the Sheriff in the small, run down town the film takes place in. Rourke is best known for starring in movies such as The Wrestler, for which he won a Golden Globe and received an Academy Award nomination, as well as Sin City. His execution of this terrifying and daunting character will keep you on the edge of your seat. A true Jack-of-all-trades, Rourke has many talents, and this motion picture proves that acting should be at the top of that list of talents.

Faust has managed to develop a feature film that contains mystery, fear, and an emotional storyline. To some, the movie may feel long or dragging at times; however, the demure yet striking camera work throughout will be sure to hold your interest.

Make sure to keep an eye out for Girl, which hits select theatres on November 20^th and video on demand services on November 24^th.

SCORE: ★★★