[Film Review] The Aviary (2022)

A well-paced slow burn, The Aviary from co-directors/co-writers Jennifer Raite and Chris Cullari is a surprisingly intriguing character study of the effects of psychological trauma and cult practices.

When two women flee their compound, it isn’t only the perils of the desert they must fear as they realize their cult leader has more power over their minds than recently believed. Jillian (Malin Akerman) and Blair (Lorenzo Izzo) carry the weight of The Aviary, engaging in a dusty, sweaty, mind-bending trek through the expansive desert terrain, uncovering secrets and lies that manage to captivate the viewer through a masterfully written script. 

There are no glimpses into the “Skylight” cult other than brief shots of the masked therapeutic practice used by cult leader Seth (Chris Messina) to break down “barriers,” and develop intense psychological bonds with his followers. Skylight’s practices seem to take a cue from many real-life cults, with Messina’s charismatic portrayal of Seth making it easy to understand why Jillian and Blair might want to protect him almost as much as they seek to escape him. 

Upon venturing into the desert, Jillian and Blair quickly find themselves awash in memories they can’t trust and visions that seem set to mislead and endanger their journey. It is clear from the start that, while Seth appears to be a benevolent leader, somewhere along Skylight’s inception he fell into an ego trap that has caused his turn toward more dangerous motivations, and there is a real fear behind Blair and Jillian’s escape. Skylight’s practices include branding, forced celibacy, and invasive talk therapy, all under the guise of discovering, as Seth says, “What’s in the way of your joy.” 

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The Aviary utilizes repetition in a creative and intense way, with cinematography that captures the paranoia of the women’s cloistered minds and the fear of what lies beyond the comfort of the sheltered community Seth has built. The relationship between Jillian and Blair is constantly changing; with Jillian serving as a kind of mentor in one moment, and as a harbinger of doubt and fear the next. What the story does best is sow seeds of doubt in the viewer as well as the characters. Just when one road becomes predictable, the film veers down a hidden path that unveils new information, keeping the suspense at a fever pitch nearly the entire 96-minute runtime. 

The ending doesn’t hit quite as hard as the rest of the movie, but The Aviary is a fantastic vehicle for Akerman and Izzo and offers a unique take on the cult trope that never once feels contrived or dull. 

The Aviary has been released in Theaters, on Digital, and On Demand from Saban Films and Paramount Pictures on April 29, 2022.

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