For many of us, films about the overly obsessive best friend who eventually goes on to have a psychotic rampage tend to be an enjoyable guilty pleasure. However, director/writer Rebecca Cutter fails to give an equally entertaining script with her latest project.
Besties tells the story of Sandy (Olivia Crocicchia), a dorky underclassman who idolizes the babysitter that has lived next door to her for years. Ashley (Madison Riley) is a gorgeous, fun, and popular senior. She is also manipulative bitch. On the night that her dad goes out of town for work, Sandy excitedly asks Ashley to baby-sit her. Ashley takes advantage of this opportunity to throw a party in which a destructive ex makes an unexpected visit. When things get out of hand, the night ends with deadly results. To make sure she never reveals the secrets of that night, Ashley entices Sandy with a “friendship” she wouldn’t dare want to risk losing.
The premise sounds interesting enough. I even appreciate the slight originality of role reversal with who is actually good and bad in this film. Movies like Single White Female and The Roomate focus on the pretty and sweet girl who has unknowingly become a victim to the crazy, obsessive new friend. Sandy is very much the victim in Besties. The problem with this film, in comparison to its predecessors, is the tamed and boring actions that follow after the two girls become best friends. Yes, Ashley is mean but there really isn’t a boiling point for Sandy that makes the audience: one- want to sympathize for her, and two- really want her to overcome Ashley.
Maybe if there were more talented actors, the movie could have been a bit thrilling. Crocicchia was tolerable, but her attempt to act drunk was almost as embarrassing as watching Bobby Soto try to play a convincing love interest for her character. A couple shots of vodka for Crocicchia, and a few acting lessons for Soto could have made for a better film. Thank goodness for Riley’s performance as the conniving antagonist. She is truly the only reason I was able to keep watching this movie. Although, if Ashley’s mom (Jackie Debatin) and Sandy ’s dad (Corin Nemec) would have played a bigger part, I think we could have had an interesting side story.
Besties is a low-budget drama/thriller that starts out with so much potential, but falls incredibly flat.
Watch Besties on demand at phase4films.com
Originally posted on RedCarpetCrash.com
About halfway through the film, the lawyers start looking like puppets getting their strings pulled by the true villain of the film. The ever so controlling judge! Taking actions as if they were God, the portrayal of every judge publicized is unspeakable and quite frankly, terrifying. You are completely helpless once a judge has your life in their hands, and it is best not to rub them the wrong way.
