Somewhat ironically, one of 'Actress Wanted (2018)' biggest issues is the fact that its acting is sometimes - often, even - subpar, with unnatural line readings that kind of feel like something straight out of a film school production. The issue is especially noticeable whenever the characters speak English, probably due to the simple fact that I can't Vietnamese and therefore don't know if the Vietnamese dialogue is being delivered naturally; I would assume, however, that the problem persists across the entire affair. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a deal breaker. It's something you get used to relatively quickly, and is easy to forgive considering how otherwise interesting the piece is. Always toeing the line between genres, the plot takes an intriguing premise and builds on it in an effective way. It's an enjoyable, engaging experience that unfortunately - despite its best efforts - crescendoes in a predictable, relatively generic way. Still, it's successful as a whole. Though it does feel far more like a first feature than a second, the flick typically pushes past its shortcomings. You want to give it the benefit of the doubt, which makes it more effective in the long run. Overall, it's an entertaining drama/ thriller that deserves more attention than it's currently getting. 7/10.
7 Reviews
It's limited by its 'student film' vibe, but it's got a lot going for it.
domtaylor23 August 2021
With only 60 IMDb users having seen this flick at the time of writing, I think it's safe to say that not many people are aware of its existence. This is a shame as 'Actress Wanted' has a lot going for it, mainly in the story department. It tells a rather unique tale with a rather compelling character in the mysterious Mr. Vu. While it plays like a straight drama for much of its rather short runtime, there are enough moments sprinkled throughout that let you know there's more going on than meets the eye. Indeed, you're never quite sure if the core premise is sweet or creepy, which keeps you engaged throughout. What lets the film down quite a bit, though, is its production. It clearly has a low budget but it's the directors second feature, and it feels very much like a student production. There's some choppy editing and the cinematography is rather basic, but the biggest issue is some of the performances. The film has a mixture of English and Vietnamese, with two of the main characters, including the protagonist, speaking a mixture of both. Whenever English is being spoken in this film, the performances are awful. It's not even a case of the actors' English not being very strong; they're clearly fluent in the language. The line delivery is just terrible. Now, I can't speak Vietnamese so perhaps that had something to do with it, but when these actors speak in that language, the performances seem absolutely fine. Whenever English is being spoken though, it's quite frankly hard to watch. Overall, 'Actress Wanted' is worth the watch for its interesting narrative if you can get past its 'student film' vibe and occasional cringe-inducing performances. 6/10.
Highly Recommend!
xlizzeex23 October 2018
This movie kept me intrigued and curious throughout its entirety. The character developments are great and I felt a mix of sympathy, frustration, and hope for the main characters. A lot of great unexpected twists and scary moments. Overall, I would definitely recommend this movie!
Actresses Wanted
kumakala21 October 2018
Great movie
kalipham21 October 2018
Creepy, Scary, and Funny
cblancarte21 October 2018
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