Watch The Unspeakable Act

The Unspeakable Act is a 2012 independent film directed and written by Dan Sallitt. The movie revolves around the life of Jackie Kimball, played by Tallie Medel, who is a brilliant high school student living with her brother Matthew, played by Sky Hirschkron. Jackie is deeply fond of her brother to the point that she develops an intense emotional infatuation for him.

The film takes place in a suburban town in New York and follows the daily lives of Jackie and Matthew, whose relationship is unlike anything seen in conventional films. Jackie navigates through her emotional attachment to her brother while enduring the stress and pressure of high school life. She tries to navigate her way through the social constructs of high school, maintain friendships, and family relationships.

Despite Jackie's unusual interest in her brother, the film does not portray her as a villain or deviant. Instead, the film adopts a sympathetic tone towards her feelings, even as it also highlights the challenges of her circumstances. The movie also attempts to shed some light on taboo issues surrounding incest and the stigma attached to such relationships.

Tallie Medel delivers an outstanding performance as Jackie, managing to portray the complex emotions evident in incestuous relationships. The film’s narrative is driven almost entirely by Jackie's perspective, and Medel manages to create an empathetic character regardless of the audience's perception of the taboo theme.

The soundtrack for this film is fantastic, with a subtle and beautiful score that accentuates Jackie's character's emotional depth. The movie generally utilizes everyday ambient sounds to create a realistic backdrop to the story.

Hirschkron does an excellent job of portraying a character with a tightly-controlled emotional persona while still subtly hinting at his recognition of his sister's affections. His acting enhances the movie's suspense in the final act, as the audience begins to realize the implications of his character’s ambiguity.

One significant aspect that is commendable about the movie is that it does not fall into the trap of making a spectacle of taboo relationships. Sallitt keeps the plot grounded, focusing more on the characters' daily activities rather than fetishizing the incestuous connection.

The Unspeakable Act is intense, thought-provoking, and emotionally engaging. Watchers may find it challenging to sit through the entire movie, given the sensitive nature of the theme, but the ending is worth it. The plot resonates with its audience, forcing them to confront uncomfortable truths about our society’s perception of taboo subjects.

Overall, The Unspeakable Act is a beautifully crafted movie that delves into challenging themes but still manages to create a humanizing story about the struggle of identity, love, and acceptance.

All in all, The Unspeakable Act is a rare instance of a truly remarkable film that explores complex themes and characters with gut-wrenching realism. The cast delivers memorable performances, with the outstanding Tallie Medel stealing the show as the emotionally complicated Jackie. The movie's successes rely mainly on Sallitt's ability to keep the plot contained and nuanced while still delivering an emotional gut punch in the end. This film is a must-watch for anyone who loves character-driven dramas that dive into, as the title suggests – the unspeakable.

The Unspeakable Act is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 76.