Electra is a new film releasing in theaters and on digital platforms this weekend. Directed by Hala Matar & co-written by Matar & Daryl Wein, the film stars Maria Bakalova, Wein, Jack Farthing, and Abigail Cowen. A journalist and his female companion travel to interview a famous musician in Rome where a generous invite to a country estate becomes something much more than anyone expected.

Ever since the pandemic, I always look ahead at the month to come as it nears. As I started looking at the new releases for May, Electra stood out between its lead star in Maria Bakalova and its overall vision. While it is true that it stands out as a new & bold take on The Talented Mr. Ripley, the film still manages to stand out on its own due to the creative choices that will surely entertain its viewers.

The film is directed by Hala Matar in her directorial debut, making her the first Bahraini woman to make a feature film. That’s awesome! She clearly makes her vision and voice heard through a project that manages to stand on its own, even if it does wear its influences on its sleeve. There are plenty of surprises throughout where Matar requires genuine performances out of the talent. It can even get quite weird at times, but the film is all the better for it.

Viewers may recognize its leading actress Maria Bakalova from many projects before. I never thought when I first watched Borat Subsequent Moviefilm that she would shoot to stardom the way she has. Even as an award-nominated actress, it’s not only great to have her lead a film, but it’s awesome that she is still leaning into indies that gives the cast & crew the opportunity to break through in their film career.

Even though Bakalova is noted as the lead actress, I don’t believe she overshadows the rest of the cast. Everyone here has an equal amount of screentime that helps propel the story forward. Daryl Wein both stars & co-writes the film alongside Matar. He gives a convincing performance, but I can also see where his writing alongside Matar gives the film the opportunity to gage a broader audience. Without giving much away, it goes in an unpredictable direction that is both fitting & shocking.

Jack Farthing & Abigail also give incredible performances in a cast that will surely all shoot to stardom if they haven’t already. Other than Bakalova, I haven’t seen this cast in anything else. After this, I will see anything they are in. Farthing is required to give a restrained & interesting performance while Cowen manages to be a true standout that surprised me with her amounts of layers from start to finish.

As a directorial debut, the film is certainly a smaller indie, but the technical components work in the film’s favor that gives the film the opportunity to stand out. The cinematography captures the broad landscape & scenery, helping the audience clearly understand where the characters are with colors that often helps bring more energy out of the film. The production & wardrobe design also speaks volumes as to who these characters are. Even when the story can get wild, the film is still interesting to watch unfold.

The third act leans heavily into a certain editing style that I didn’t quite agree with, but I also admire the film for taking the bold swings. The choices that are made do feel dated, yet I feel like it’s been forever since I have seen something like it. Personally, I would have liked to have seen more of that specific style throughout. The choices that are made towards the end can be a bit overplayed to help enhance the story when I think it could have been even better without it. It’s definitely a choice that I think may get better the more I think about it.

Overall, Electra is a bold & visionary tale with a cast that stand out on screen and a crew who cares about the overall film. It takes interesting creative swings & it does wear its influences on its sleeve, but there is no doubt that this is one of the most creative films I have seen this year. Check this one out!

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)