You know how everyone says you should have to take a test before you have kids? Well, The Assessment out of TIFF 2024 takes this to the extreme, and it isn’t all rainbows and sunshine like we thought. When the government can control procreation, no one wins.
The Assessment takes place in a world where humans have destroyed their planet, nearly killing off the race. Those left used what limited resources they had to create domes in which they could survive, allowing the human race to continue. People get their own private domes and need to provide for themselves, but because of limited resources, people are no longer allowed to have children the ol’ fashioned way. Now, to have a child, you need to be approved by an “Assessor” to have a child incubated offsite by passing a week of rigorous secret testing, and if you fail, there is no second chance. The Assessor’s word is final.
In this dome, people are forced to take a drug that leaves them unable to have children but also seems to stop them from aging. If they leave the domes, conditions are harsh and dangerous, and they will begin to age again quickly. When a couple is ready, they get an assessment, and this is where we meet our couple, Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel). Assessor Virgina (Alicia Vikander) is on her way, and what follows is a dark and twisted look at the downfall of society.
The Assessment has an interesting style overall, giving a futuristic version of 70s chic aesthetic. Their home is modern, and technology is advanced, but something about it screams retro. The couple’s style is similar, but when we meet Virginia, she seems very military and rigid, with a plain uniform. The contrast between them is stark and draws a line between regular life and the government.
The tests the couple ensures begin small, like a verbal interview. But the next morning, when Virginia joins them, she isn’t her usual self. She is now essentially a toddler. As a parent, I feel like some people could really benefit from these kinds of tests. Virginia throws food, favours one parent over another, and is stubborn, everything you would expect from a normal child. Vikander flows in and out of this state effortlessly. It’s borderline creepy.
Seeing the frustration grow in Olsen and Patel is relatable, but because they want children, they endure. The way that The Assessment uses “tests” real parents would recommend – like building things like Ikea furniture or watching children around water – are relatable but still have their own futuristic twist. As The Assessment progresses, it is clear something more sinister is at bay, but the script and direction keep leading you away to believe it is all a part of the process.
“As The Assessment progresses, it is clear something more sinister is at bay, but the script and direction keep leading you away to believe it is all a part of the process.”
Even with a visit from friends and family to further tension, the audience is led to believe that this is a regular occurrence. With Aaryan’s mother revealing secrets, him learning about Mia’s affair with her mentor, whose wife was also invited and Virginia acting up, the dinner party serves as a dark look at how these lives came to be. Though a small role, Minnie Driver, who was also in Miller’s in Marriage at TIFF, was powerful, hilarious and tells a truly terrifying story. She reveals things about the world we didn’t know, and I loved how these secrets were held for so long in the film.
By the end of The Assessment, we know the hidden truths of this world, and the story’s design to keep you in suspense is brilliant. The end will leave you horrified yet satisfied and keep you thinking long after the credits roll. The Assessment was one of the most interesting and thought-provoking films at TIFF 2024, and I am eager to recommend it.
Check out more of CGMagazine’s TIFF 2024 coverage here.
