The Mumblecore Thriller
Directed by and starring Pat Healy, Take Me sits in that specific pocket of 2010s indie cinema often called 'mumblecore,' but with a dark thriller twist. It doesn't rely on explosions or massive set pieces; it relies on the awkward tension between Ray (Healy) and Anna (Taylor Schilling).
Ray is the kind of character Healy excels at: a man who is technically doing something creepy but thinks he's a misunderstood visionary. He has spreadsheets, a business plan, and a pathetic desire for professional respect. When Anna hires him for a 'weekend abduction,' the movie becomes a game of psychological chicken.
Why it's a hard sell for families
Even though the movie is a comedy, the 'safe' score is low for a reason. The mechanics of the plot require the audience to watch a woman be kidnapped, bound, and interrogated. The film tries to balance this by showing Ray’s incompetence, but the inherent violence of the act remains. For a teenager, this can be a great entry point into discussing consent and the reliability of narrators, but for anyone younger, it’s just a movie about a guy being scary to a woman in a basement.
The Schilling Factor
Taylor Schilling (of Orange Is the New Black fame) is the secret weapon here. She plays the role with such a sharp edge that you genuinely don't know if she's a victim or a mastermind. Her performance is what elevates this from a one-note joke into a movie that actually has something to say about the stories we tell ourselves to justify our behavior.
