Every Secret Thing.

This film is based on a novel of the same name by author Laura Lippman. Honestly, I initially wanted to watch this movie for the sole purpose of Dakota Fanning being in it- I've always been a huge DF fan. But I soon realised that this film wasn't anywhere near what I expected. 

This thriller is about the frantic search for a missing child and the horrific events that unravel during the investigation. I'm not all that excited about crime stories because I find the process to be long and uninteresting especially when portrayed in a movie. But just like "The Lovely Bones" the focus is fixed on the people involved and clues are unveiled by the lives they live. So it feels like you the reviewer, is putting the pieces together yourself.

The investigation revolves around two teenagers, Ronnie Fuller and Alice Manning who return to their hometown after being held for the abduction and death of a baby some years before. However, it just so happens that after the girls are released, another child goes missing once again. 

Nancy Potter, who is one of the lead investigators on the case is already haunted by the reality that the previous child did not survive. So imagine the pain she must feel knowing the same thing could happen again. 

The parents of the now missing child may not seem like good folks at first glance but you know that they would never hurt a hair on their little girl's head. And although, it may seem unlikely that Ronnie and Alice would be guilty and somewhat stupid enough to do this again, they become the prime suspects once more. 

This film is simple yet so complex due to the characters and the secrets they possess. It shows both present and past events which consists of hatred, blame, struggle and pain. It shows the complexity of each female character who do not fit the norm. 

I would love to say my favourite actor in this film is Dakota- I really love that girl! But in all honesty the character of "Alice" had held my attention more. Danielle MacDonald really killed this role especially since she gave me mixed feelings about her. 

I really wanted to like her but at the same time I didn't. I wanted her to be locked up forever but I also wished people would understand her. She has such a sick mind through no fault of hers and yet her mother pays more attention to Ronnie- who wasn't even her kid. This shows us that not fitting the societal perception of acceptance makes it even more difficult to feel loved. 

If you watch this film carefully you will observe an occurring pattern from just one person who is responsible for everything that happens- and they might not even be aware of it. 

So there's nothing left for me to say (before I sell out the entire thing) but sit back, relax and solve the mystery. I promise you'll be in awe after you find out what really happened on that fateful day.