Watch Lyle

Lyle is a psychological thriller directed by Stewart Thorndike, and starring Gaby Hoffmann, Ingrid Jungermann, and Eleanor Hopkins. The movie follows the story of Leah and June, a lesbian couple who move in together with their toddler daughter Lyle, after experiencing tragic events in their past. Their new life seems perfect until they lose Lyle in a tragic accident. Leah, who blames herself for the accident, falls into a deep depression, while June struggles to keep their relationship and family together. As she begins to uncover Leah's disturbing secrets, June realizes that Lyle's death may not have been an accident after all.

The movie masterfully builds a sense of unease from the beginning, as the opening shots show Lyle's playpen inside their new apartment, filled with toys and pictures of the happy family. The atmosphere surrounding the apartment is eerie and unsettling, with shadows and sounds hinting at a darker undercurrent. This sense of foreboding is accentuated by the lack of music in the score, which only adds to the already chilling atmosphere.

The story is anchored by Gaby Hoffmann as Leah, who delivers an outstanding performance as a mother who is gradually losing her mind. Her face is haunting and distraught, and as the story progresses, we begin to see the depth of her pain and the descent into madness. Ingrid Jungermann plays June, who acts as the more practical and level-headed partner, but who begins to realize that she does not really know Leah as well as she thought. Eleanor Hopkins, who plays the new tenant in the apartment next door, adds another layer of intrigue to the story as she shows an unusual interest in Leah, and starts to appear more and more as the story unfolds.

The movie does well in slowly building the tension as June begins to unravel Leah's secrets. The camera work is claustrophobic and suffocating, often using close-ups of faces with little music used in the background. Small scenes and snippets of information are used to build the narrative, and you never feel like you have a proper handle on what's going on, which adds to the suspense. This style of storytelling allows the viewer to slowly become more and more absorbed in the story, leading to the climax which takes place in the final act.

One of the strengths of Lyle is its strong portrayal of motherhood and what it can do to a person. Leah's grief is palpable, and the way it manifests itself on the screen is haunting. From staring at Lyle's pictures to befriending a woman in a support group who has lost her child, the movie gives us an incredible insight into the world of a mother consumed by grief. There are moments when Leah comes across as overbearing and controlling, which only adds to the tension between her and June. The movie does well to show the toll that Lyle's death has taken on June as well, as she tries to hold everything together while also dealing with her own grief.

In terms of drawbacks, the movie could have done a better job in fleshing out the supporting characters. Apart from the three leads, the other characters, including Leah's therapist and the support group members, are given little screen time which makes it difficult to connect with them on a deeper level. The story is also a bit predictable at times, but this does not detract from the overall experience.

Lyle is a well-crafted psychological thriller that will keep you on edge from start to finish. The story of a mother's descent into madness is expertly portrayed by Gaby Hoffmann, who puts in a fantastic performance. The lack of music in the score, the claustrophobic camera work, and the slow build-up in tension all contribute to creating an unforgettable experience. Overall, Lyle is a movie definitely worth watching for fans of the thriller genre.

Lyle is a 2014 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 2 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7.