Actor-turned-writer-director Aaron Strand makes his feature-length debut with Withdrawal. The drama follows talented singer-songwriter Viv (Millie Rose Evans) and her beau Jay (Brent Michal), who is an artist. While there’s no denying that these two are drawn to and love each other, that doesn’t mean they are actually a good fit. See, Viv and Jay indulge in each other’s most base addictions, literally, as they inject heroin all the time. Viv’s dependency is so harmful that she cannot even perform one song during an open mic night without first biting some of that brown sugar. Reality comes crashing down around the young troubadour and her lover after a woman overdoses in their bed, and the couple has no recollection of who she is. This incident inspires Viv and Jay to finally move to New York City to follow her musical career.
However, they need the help of Viv’s conservative, affluent parents, who are not happy that she’s dropping out of her final year of law school. Despite allowing Viv to live on her own for some time, they notice how bad things have gotten and threaten to send her to rehab. To stay together, Viv and Jay decide to get clean on their own, but the withdrawal process brings out the worst behavior in them both. Plus, without being in a facility, the influence and patterns of their old life are just outside, waiting for them. Can Viv and Jay get clean and stay together, or is the high and familiarity of heroin too much of a temptation for the pair?
“To stay together, Viv and Jay decide to get clean on their own, but the withdrawal process brings out the worst behavior…”
Approximately 40 minutes into Withdrawal, Viv’s mom brings dinner to her child’s place. Upon entering, the parent is astonished, in a bad way, by the state of the apartment and the lack of things in it. After a mostly pleasant meal, the night takes a dark turn, and Viv and her mom get into a verbal altercation. Venom is batted back and forth as each lets all their frustrations and built-up anger out in one fell swoop. The scene highlights how Viv’s parents never truly let her chase her dreams and that Viv is clearly not capable of making the best decisions. It is a standout moment in a film full of raw and intense moments that never feel forced or faked.
It certainly helps that the actors are brilliant. Evans holds nothing back, having no reservations about looking pretty. At one point, she is shitting her guts out and the camera observes how she goes from fighting with Jay to needing him. The turn is perfectly played as the hopelessness is on full display. Michal leans into the selfishness of his part, as it’s his idea to get clean on their own. Yet he is still very charming, and the two actors share strong chemistry that allows their relationship to make complete sense.
Withdrawal could well be the best film about addiction and getting clean since Requiem For A Dream. It’s excellently acted, with both Evans and Michal fully committing to the ugliness inherent in their roles. They are surrounded by a stunning supporting cast who all give authentic performances as well. Every scene is needed to further the characters and their desperation, both while taking drugs and while trying to get clean. The end is heartbreaking, but it feels true, and isn’t art meant to reveal a truth to its audience?
"…excellently acted, with both Evans and Michal fully committing..."
