The Mistress (2023) is a psychological horror film with a touch of mystery, written and directed by Greg Pritikin. The film is about 102–105 minutes long, about a young couple Parker (John Magaro) and Madeleine (Chasten Harmon) who move into an old Victorian house, which is their "dream" house. The house suddenly becomes haunted when they accidentally discover love letters over 100 years old, sent by a woman who used to live there to the previous owner - who she later left because of betrayal. The old letters lead Parker and Madeleine on a mysterious journey, when Parker begins to see the shadow of a strange woman (Aylya Marzolf), as if she were the spirit of the house. Madeleine becomes increasingly suspicious of her husband, especially when they meet the sexy neighbor - Dawn (Kat Cunning), who seems "too" close to Parker. Skepticism, jealousy and supernatural phenomena put both of them in a state of tension with no way out.
Visually, “The Mistress” is praised for its seductive dark lighting and the mysterious space of Ut vet’s house – a perfect combination of old Visco style and modern horror. There are some impressive jump scares, however, many people also commented that the plot develops slowly, and the final development of the film is rushed, reducing the connection with the characters.
Overall, the acting of the cast such as John Magaro (as Parker) creates inner complexity: both trustworthy and containing deep secrets. Chasten Harmon – playing Madeleine – also shows well the feelings of confusion and anxiety as the betrayed wife. However, the overall character line is commented to be still vague, lacking the necessary layers of depth for the audience to truly sympathize.
The film exploits the theme of past wounds that can reappear in the present - typically through the image of a woman from the past, as a reminder: "History - even though it has passed - can still wait to live again". But because it focuses more on ideas than on character development, the film makes viewers feel "good ideas but lacking depth".
The ending of the film has a twist element, with enough surprise to startle the audience, but at the same time makes some people feel disappointed because of the hasty implementation, lacking sophistication.
In short, The Mistress is a work that blends horror, mystery and psychological elements, with a style similar to Hitchcock's works thanks to its ghostly space and haunting past. The strong points are the setting, lighting, John Magaro's acting and a few psychological jump scares. However, the film is penalized for character development and the way the final climax is built is a bit rushed. If you love the nostalgic psychological horror genre, The Mistress is still worth a chance to experience.
