Jane, a Dark Psychological Film

 Co-written as a screenplay with Rishi Rajani, director Sabrina Jaglom, Jane is a feature film debut of Sabrina that was released in September 2022. It is also the second movie released by the Creator + movie distribution company and streaming service.

JANE Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zir-fAYCby8

 

 Losing someone is never easy and especially when it is a close friend. After the loss of one of her closest friends – Jane, as portrayed by Chloe Bailey, Olivia Brooks (portrayed by Madelaine Petsch), spirals into severe depression leaving her absolutely friendless. 

Olivia is shown as an ambitious high schooler.  Studying at an elite prep school – Greenwood School For Girls, all the students come from middle-class and upper-middle-class families. Having two other close friends - Izzy and Jane, Olivia loses control of herself.

 

In her last year of high school, she begins to see visions of her best friend (Jane) everywhere and Olivia begins to commit different crimes. 

Even, her other friend, Izzy Morris (portrayed by Chloe Bailey) also stops talking to her, which only adds to her trauma. 

Living out a routine where everything is literally set to the clock. Whether it is her watch chiming or phone dinging; every second of her life is preset and determined.

Moreover, she is a highly ambitious student and is facing a lot of academic pressure. She has her heart set on getting admission to Standford University and is willing to do anything to get into the university. However, she suffers from serious mental health issues. Olivia also suffers from various mental health issues and upon getting overwhelmed by things she easily faints.   

 

However, Olivia's application to Standford is kept on hold, leading to Olivia having a minor meltdown. 

Olivia begins to get envious of any student who may get what she deserves. 

Simultaneously a new transfer student – Camille Cortez (played by Nina Bloomgarden) threatens Olivia in the debate team that she is better than Olivia. 

In addition to this, the teacher in charge of the debate team, wants Camilla to co-lead with Olivia. Olivia begins to develop a deep sense of aggression and greed where she embarks on a social-media-fueled rampage against anyone who stands in the way of her success. 

 

In a malicious attempt to destroy Camille, Olivia creates a fake account to send unsettling messages to Camille. 

However, when the bullying starts to get out of hand, both Olivia and Izzy begin to expose other people at the school's secrets via a third account – i.e., their dead friend’s account Jane. While this is a completely mean-spirited act, it is Olivia who is more vindictive and obsessive than Izzy is. 

However, more trouble creeps up when a third party begins to start accessing this account. 

 

A typical formulaic teenage drama movie, the movie could be rated average or above average. However, this movie carries a lot of mental health issues about teenage girls such as obsessive behaviours, bullying, how people become vindictive and feel the need to dominate and surpass one another, backstabbing, vengeance, alter-egos of teenagers and how the pressure to succeed and the loss of a friend can create panic attacks.

 

A psychologically- distressful event in a teenager's life, the film may come across as very harrowing and upsetting to young adolescents. It is important to be able to know that the events in the film are not healthy and acceptable ways to behave. 

 

The only poignant thought that may haunt a viewer is how much bad behaviour is Olivia really going to get away with. A movie is really worth viewing, this movie is especially important for teenagers who go through such complex issues.