★★★

A continuation of her 2015 short film of the same name, Erin Vassilopoulos’ Superior is a mystery with twin sisters (both in front of and off screen) grappling with issues in their personal lives and with one another. 

Portrayed by Alessandra and Anamari Mesa, we first encounter Marian on the run from an assailant, clad in red, blood pooling from a gash at the top of her head. Vivian, mired in a housewife life she is increasingly dissatisfied with, is married to Michael (Jake Hoffman). When Marian lands in Vivian’s life for the first time in years, the adversarial nature between the sisters falls away when they decide to perform some “Twin Magic” and jump into each other’s lives for a day.

On the first day, Vivian takes Marian’s job at an ice cream shop, while Marian slides into the role of Vivian, using time while Michael is away to work on music she wants to write for a band she fronts. Both feel invigorated and keep the ruse up for a little while longer, until both women’s lives converge and their delirium with pretending places them both in danger.

Vassilopoulos has a tremendous eye for the way visuals can be framed and presented to keep viewers intrigued and curious about what’s rolling out before them. The Mesa sisters are effective in these roles, picking up the nuances of one another’s characters and keeping us invested in their complicated journey.

Set in October 1987, as a calendar in Vivian and Michael’s kitchen reminds us frequently, the film is deeply rooted in 1980s chic, fashion, and aesthetic. A cool quirk, Superior definitely looks unique and is shot on grainy 16mm to give the film a dated, weathered, throwback appearance.

Even if the story’s build runs slow and underperforms in the climactic moments, Vassilopoulos’ talent for eye-catching storytelling and clever conceptual design comes through loud and clear. 

Superior was viewed as part of the Fourth Annual North Bend Film Festival.