Manipulation. Gaslighting. Love-bombing. Isolation. All of these terms exist in the popular vernacular as buzzwords to describe toxic relationships. As observers, we can easily see when romance and love lead to abuse, but when experiencing the situation firsthand, the target of the gaslighting might not realize the actual extent to which they are being manipulated. This style of dating is an unfortunate epidemic; it seems most people will encounter an abusive partner at some point in their life. There have been many stories, tv shows, and films which cover this topic (You, ROSEMARY’S BABY, UNSANE, LUCKY (2020) to name only a few), but Cazzie David and Elisa Kalani approach it in a more unique manner. Making its world premiere at SXSW, I LOVE YOU FOREVER appears as a modern romantic comedy, but it also includes a fair amount of trauma-inducing horror as the story focuses on an absolutely toxic and manipulative relationship.
In a landscape of unenthusiastic hook-ups, terrible situationships, and social media fueled courtships, a lot of people long for a meet-cute where a magical instance of happenstance unites two (or more) people, and they fall madly in love. The chances of a random encounter are rare, and the chances of this encounter panning out to be a loving and lasting relationship are astronomically low. But maybe, just maybe, this time will be different.
Mackenzie (Sofia Black-D’Elia) is like a lot of Gen Zers. Her life keeps her busy and does not leave much time to partake in a relationship much more complex than uncomfortable hook-ups. Until one night she meets Finn (Ray Nicholson) who sweeps her off her feet. He’s cute. She’s cute. They start doing cute things together and every blissfully happy moment gets posted to social media. However, the constant bombardment of overly saccharine gestures cannot hide the deeply troubled behavior forever. Soon, I LOVE YOU takes us on a journey through a relationship that is uncomfortable to watch but incredibly real. The snowball of codependency and toxic attachment is depicted with such authenticity many members of the audience will start squirming in their seats.
One of the film’s strengths is its ability to balance comedy with the tense and anxiety-inducing moments. This is particularly impressive for first-time directors David and Kalani. David’s character, Ally (paired with the character Lucas played by Jon Rudnitsky), provides a fun amount of dry humor, and the witty dialogue and sharp observation about modern relationships are both entertaining and terrifying. So, much like the couple at the center of the film, the audience will also oscillate between extreme moments of humor and enjoyment and instances of extreme emotional abuse.
Black-D’Elia delivers a standout performance as Mackenzie and portrays her character’s journey with depth and authenticity. Her transformation from a twenty-something law student with a lame dating record to a woman trapped in an abusive relationship is both compelling and heartbreaking to watch. What makes the character more believable and likeable is that Mackenzie does not immediately fall into the role of an abused woman; she demonstrates agency and makes attempts to defuse the abuse when it starts. However, her manipulator knows just how to divert his victim’s emotions.
Tags: Cazzie David, Elisa Kalani, Film Festivals, I Love You Forever, Jon Rudnitsky, Lucky, Ray Nicholson, Rosemary's Baby, Sofia Black-D'Elia, SXSW 2024, Unsane, You
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