‘Gray Matter’ (2023) Max Movie Review - A Dull and Confusing Sci-Fi Thriller

Gray Matter is a supernatural thriller that follows the lives of a mother and daughter who have psionic abilities, such as telepathy and telekinesis. The movie is directed by Meko Winbush, who was selected as the winner of the fifth season of Project Greenlight, a reality show that documents the making of a low-budget feature film. The movie stars Mia Isaac, Jessica Frances Dukes, and Garret Dillahunt.

The main problem is the script, which is poorly written, cliched, and full of plot holes. The movie lacks any sense of suspense, character development, or originality. The dialogue is bland and unnatural, the motivations are unclear and the logic is flawed. The movie also wastes the opportunity to explore the implications and consequences of having psionic powers in a realistic and nuanced way.

The movie starts with a promising scene where Ayla (Dukes), the mother, uses her powers to escape from the police after planting bombs on a building. However, the movie never explains why she did that, who she was targeting, or what her goals were. The movie then jumps 15 years later, where Ayla and her daughter Aurora (Isaac) live in hiding, constantly moving from place to place. Ayla is paranoid and overprotective, while Aurora is rebellious and curious. Aurora sneaks out to meet her friend Isaiah (Liner), who has a crush on her. One night, Aurora accidentally causes a fatal accident with her powers, which attracts the attention of a mysterious organization that wants to capture and exploit psionics.

The movie then becomes a generic chase thriller, where Ayla and Aurora are pursued by agents led by Derek (Dillahunt), who has a personal connection to Ayla. Along the way, they encounter other psionics who either help them or betray them. The movie tries to create some twists and surprises, but they are predictable and unconvincing. The movie also tries to inject some emotional drama, but it falls flat because the characters are not well-developed or likable. The movie ends with a vague and unsatisfying conclusion that leaves many questions unanswered.

One of the major flaws of the movie is its lack of clarity and resolution. The movie leaves the audience hanging with many unresolved plot points and unanswered questions. The movie never reveals the motivation behind Ayla’s act of terrorism, the identity and backstory of Derek and his relation to Ayla, the purpose and agenda of the shadowy organization that hunts down psionics, and the fate of Ayla and Aurora after their final confrontation. The movie also fails to delve deeper into the themes and issues that arise from having psionic powers, such as the ethical dilemmas, the social stigma, the psychological effects, and the potential for good or evil.

The movie is not without some positive aspects. The performances are decent, especially from Isaac and Dukes, who have some chemistry as mother and daughter. The visual effects are also impressive for a low-budget film, creating some cool scenes of psionic action. The movie also has some diversity in its cast and crew, which is commendable.

However, these aspects are not enough to save the movie from being a disappointment. Gray Matter is a movie that could have been much better if it had a stronger script, more creativity, and more coherence. It is a wasted opportunity to tell an engaging story about superhuman abilities that quickly lose their footing.

Final Score – [4/10]
Reviewed by - Arpita Mondal
Follow @ArpitaMond33387 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times