Movie Review: Mad Square

Mad Square (2023), directed by Lena Hall, is an evocative, visually compelling film that explores the complexities of mental health, identity, and the struggle for self-acceptance. Combining stunning cinematography with a raw, deeply human narrative, the film offers a reflective look at the challenges of navigating one’s personal and societal expectations. With a narrative that stretches the boundaries of reality and psychology, Mad Square isn’t just a cinematic experience but a psychological puzzle that will linger long after the credits roll.

Plot Summary

Mad Square centers around Alva (played by Emma Mackey), a talented but deeply troubled artist in her early thirties who grapples with a mental health crisis while trying to hold onto her art career. Once a rising star in the contemporary art world, Alva’s life begins to unravel when she starts experiencing disturbing hallucinations and a deteriorating sense of self. These mental breakdowns blur the lines between what is real and what is imagined, forcing Alva to confront both her past traumas and the increasingly chaotic present.

The film opens with Alva trying to maintain a facade of normalcy—attending gallery openings, meeting with potential buyers, and attempting to produce her next big art piece. However, these external pressures are compounded by her internal battles. As her world begins to distort, Alva enters a kind of limbo between reality and delusion, where the people around her (friends, family, and romantic partners) begin to feel like fragmented reflections of her own psyche.

At the heart of the film is a powerful exploration of mental illness—particularly how it affects not only the individual but also their relationships and sense of purpose. Throughout the film, Alva's journey becomes one of self-doubt, loss, and a search for meaning as she comes face-to-face with her own fragmented identity.

Emma Mackey’s Heartbreaking Performance

Emma Mackey’s portrayal of Alva is nothing short of exceptional. Known for her breakthrough role in Sex Education, Mackey proves her dramatic range here, delivering a nuanced and powerful performance. Alva’s unraveling is both subtle and jarring, and Mackey captures her emotional volatility with grace, portraying everything from moments of quiet introspection to intense, heartbreaking outbursts.

The film demands a high level of vulnerability from Mackey, and she rises to the challenge, immersing herself in the role with authenticity. Alva’s internal conflict is palpable, and Mackey’s ability to convey her spiraling sense of self-awareness and isolation makes Alva’s struggle relatable, even when the narrative takes us to darker, surreal places. It's a performance that will undoubtedly solidify Mackey as a force in dramatic acting, showcasing her ability to hold the screen with emotional depth.

Cinematography: A Visual Representation of Madness

One of the standout elements of Mad Square is its striking cinematography. The film’s visual style, helmed by director of photography Mark Wood, is integral to the storytelling. The camera work mimics Alva’s mental state, often disorienting the audience through disjointed angles, swirling motion, and unexpected cuts. These techniques are used to immerse the viewer in Alva’s inner world, where reality is no longer clear-cut and perception is ever-shifting.

There are moments when the camera zooms in on her artwork, capturing abstract shapes and images that mirror the chaos of her mind. The juxtaposition of her art—beautiful yet unsettling—and her deteriorating mental state provides a visual metaphor for her sense of fragmentation. The imagery of mirrors, reflections, and distorted faces is used to emphasize Alva’s struggle with her identity and her inability to recognize herself as she once did.

The film also uses lighting to its advantage, shifting from cold, clinical hues during Alva’s more detached moments to warmer tones when she engages with those she cares about, creating a visual contrast between the isolation of her mental collapse and fleeting connections to the outside world.

Themes of Mental Illness and Identity

Mad Square is first and foremost a film about mental illness, but it goes beyond the surface-level portrayal of psychological breakdowns. It offers a deep dive into the intersection of mental health and identity, asking how our sense of self is impacted when the mind begins to betray us. Alva’s mental breakdowns are portrayed not as a series of isolated incidents but as a slow erosion of her very concept of who she is. As the hallucinations become more vivid, Alva finds it increasingly difficult to distinguish between the person she once was and the broken version of herself that is emerging.

The film also touches on the impact of societal pressures, particularly those placed on women in the art world. Alva’s struggle with mental illness is complicated by her need to maintain a successful career in a highly competitive, often unforgiving industry. This thematic undercurrent is cleverly woven into the narrative, shedding light on the ways that ambition, societal expectations, and gender can exacerbate mental health struggles.

In many ways, Mad Square is a critique of the art world’s obsession with commodifying personal pain, suggesting that Alva’s breakdown is both a personal tragedy and a reflection of a broader cultural tendency to exploit emotional vulnerability for artistic gain. This tension between creation and destruction is central to the film’s themes, asking whether it’s possible to find balance in a world that often demands perfection or chaos.

The Surreal Elements: Blurring the Line Between Reality and Fantasy

Another aspect that makes Mad Square stand out is its use of surrealism. As Alva’s mental state deteriorates, the film introduces increasingly abstract and dreamlike sequences that make it difficult for both Alva and the audience to discern what is real. Characters morph into strange, distorted versions of themselves, and the lines between her past and present begin to blur. These surreal moments are effective not only as a visual technique but also in their ability to evoke a sense of confusion, disorientation, and isolation—feelings that are central to Alva’s psychological experience.

In some ways, the surreal elements are a reflection of Alva’s art—where lines, shapes, and colors often seem to have no clear meaning but still evoke deep emotional responses. By incorporating these same artistic techniques into the narrative, Mad Square draws a parallel between Alva’s creative process and her unraveling mental state, suggesting that both are forms of expression, albeit in very different ways.

Final Thoughts

Mad Square is an ambitious, visually arresting film that combines psychological drama with surrealistic elements to explore complex themes of identity, mental illness, and societal expectations. Emma Mackey’s exceptional performance as Alva anchors the film, making her internal struggles deeply compelling and relatable. The film’s cinematography, which mirrors the chaos of Alva’s mind, is a standout feature, offering a visual feast that keeps viewers engaged throughout the story.

While Mad Square may be challenging for some due to its abstract narrative and surreal elements, it’s ultimately a thought-provoking film that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever felt fractured, lost, or caught between who they were and who they are becoming. It’s a raw, haunting exploration of the mind, art, and the ways we cope with our darkest emotions.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Mad Square is a gripping, emotionally charged film that will leave you reflecting on identity, mental health, and the search for meaning in a world full of contradictions. A must-watch for those who enjoy films that push the boundaries of storytelling and visual expression.