Grief, loss, mental trauma and co-dependency are explored in writer and director Alex Ross Perry's Queen of Earth. A raw psychological drama with a keynote performance from Elisabeth Moss who at times unleashes bile at those around her.Moss plays Catherine who grew up together with Ginny (Katherine Waterston) her best friend, they are spending a week at a remote lake house which they also did the previous year. At that time it was Ginny whose life was in turmoil with Catherine helping her to pull through.Now Catherine is in a dark place with mental instability due to the death of her father and the ending of a relationship with her boyfriend.Over the following days both women realise that they have been drifting apart for some time with Ginny unable to help Catherine through her mental trauma. Catherine seems even more bitter that this year Gina has brought along a new boyfriend with her.The film has a lot of moody shots, Moss looks great with her make up running down looking that she is on the edge of a breakdown but this film is a slog to watch and is just too ponderous.

"Queen of Earth" is a great film. Based off the other reviews here, I think this film is under appreciated.This film takes a hard look at the complexities and imbalances that occur in long term friendships. As two people get to know each other for longer and longer, facades of politeness and patience slide away as character flaws are exposed. The two women in this story - Catherine and Virginia - have developed a deep understanding of how the other thinks, feels and fears and, for better or for worse, use this to their further their own emotional agendas.Set entirely in a vacation house in the woods, Catherine has come to Virginia for support after her father died and her boyfriend broke up with her - leaving her emotionally shipwrecked and her life in shambles. Virginia is stuck between caring for her overbearing friend and addressing the ways Catherine mistreated and took advantage of her in the past.The two women hurl mean thoughts to each other in the form of hard truths - or at least things that they believe to be true. At first glance, it is surprising to see how such a volatile relationship can be sustained as a friendship. However, as the film progresses, we see the need for each character to have someone in their life that may not care for them but, at the very least, understand and be present for them.The depth of the emotional drama is complemented by the creative camera-work and the beautiful, foreboding soundtrack which elevates this story to something of an emotional thriller. In more ways than one, the building of psychological tension between the women is as exciting as a suspenseful, murder film.I don't want to give anything away, but there are instances in the film where the story disappears into Catherine's delusions and hallucinations that I personally found over the top and not necessary. I think the film was stronger without it. Additionally, this film does not provide any sort of resolution but I feel in that sense this story mirrors life. Very rarely do we have the privilege of closure in complicated relationships but, by consuming art that addresses the subject, we can better understand them.If you are inspired and intrigued by films such as Ingmar Bergman's "Persona", Woody Allen's "Hannah and her Sisters" and the midcentury plays of Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neil - all stories about characters who simultaneously love and hate each other, than this film is definitely for you.

Imagine that you were instructed to make a film featuring two just modestly attractive women that are (and fortunately for them can financially afford to be) wholly self-possessed, narcissistic, mean-spirited and just plain vile. Worse, the two supporting actors are written as pretty much one-dimensional foils, bereft of any back-story or pretty much any focus. Surprise, this Alan Ross Perry guy comes up with an gripping -almost suspenseful- psychodrama that'll have you cringing and slack-jaw with no more than dialog. Elisabeth Moss is just sensational as is Katherine Waterston. At the end of the film you're not really rooting for, expecting or supporting any character or climax. Rather, you're simply stunned. I like being stunned.

Queen of Earth follows a woman who, after her boyfriend breaks up with her, goes on a trip to a somewhat secluded cabin with her best friend, and ultimately they run into some troubles in their relationship.I liked how this movie was shot. There were some pretty lengthy shots that were just people talking, meaning that they had to memorize a lengthy set of lines and recite them while maintaining their character. Moreover, some of the shots were just kind of pretty to look at. There were some cool ideas. The way it tried to use symbolism and portray the main character's ongoing conflict was kind of cool, but unfortunately it didn't work out. The biggest thing that really brought this movie down was the dialogue. I've seen bad dialogue and writing before, but this tops all of those. Characters often embark on long lectures and speeches that sound like they were both pre-written and practiced. Not only was the dialogue unrealistic, but the meaning of it was also awful. The two main characters, who are supposedly best friends, spend the entire movie elaborately telling each other why they are each horrible people. And they definitely aren't being sarcastic. How are these people still friends? Even in their flashback conversations they just trash-talk each other. Now you could argue that maybe I'm pointing out only the bad conversations they have, but they never say anything nice to each other. I recall one line from the entire movie where one of them says that she likes the other. That line was immediately followed by hate, however. So the movie never actually shows us that the two main characters are best friends despite stating that they are. Overall Queen of Earth is a bad movie. Sure, there were some cool ideas and pretty shots, but the dialogue is so incredibly awful that it's hard to enjoy really any part of this movie. In the end I definitely wouldn't recommend this movie.