Growing up is harder than expected in Paper Spiders, the latest from co-writer/director Inon Shampanier.
Melanie has the usual teenage problems: getting through boring classes, deciding whether to take the not-so-great advice of her friends and navigating a budding romance. But on top of that, she’s also worried about her mother, who she has a close bond with but is increasingly behaving out of the ordinary. Paranoia seems to be taking over her mind with invented disturbances feeding it. It seems that just when Melanie is supposed to be pushing away, her mother may need her the most.
The always delicate topic of mental health will make this project difficult for Shampanier, whose only previous feature, The Millionaire Tour, involves nothing of the sort. You have to make it empathetic without pushing into histrionics or harmful stereotypes, but the warm reception from its festival run indicates that he hit the right note.
As this movie will likely hinge on the mother-daughter relationship, it’s heartening to see the two roles filled by such noteworthy actors. The great Lili Taylor takes on the role of the troubled mom while the seasoned for her age Stefania LaVie Owen (Krampus, The Beach Bum) plays the daughter.
Hopefully, this team can provide a steady base for what will almost certainly be a complicated story.
Paper Spiders is directed by Inon Shampanier and stars Lili Taylor, Stefania LaVie Owen, and Peyton List. It will be released in the US in theaters and on VOD on May 7th, 2021. Further release dates are not currently known.
Will you check this one out? Let us know in the comments!
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