Reel Review: A Fan Obsession Turns Dark in Psychological Thriller Sweetness
When a fan obsession turns into a full blown kidnapping and mass murder, one fangirl and one pop star drug-addict are about to face the darkest consequences in the psychological-thriller Sweetness.
The film stars Kate Hallett as Rylee, a young girl who has an eerily creepy obsession with pop star sensation Payton Adler (Herman Tømmeraas). Rylee’s perfect image of Payton is shattered after an encounter at one his shows. It is revealed to her that he is a drug addict. In turn, Rylee’s obsession grow darker when she vows to help him overcome his addiction, by keeping him locked in her basement.
Rylee shuts down all the warning signs from those around her, which results in the multiple murders of her close friends and family. Every decision made by Hallett’s character is morally wrong, yet through her performance, she is able to convince us time and time again that what she is doing to Payton is justified. It is Herman Tømmeraas as Payton that sweetens this mix even further.
Herman Tømmeraas showcases a wide range of talent in his role as Payton; from a pop star sensation singing on stage one minute, to a struggling drug addict in the next. With the bad boy aesthetic he gives off, we understand the dark obsession Rylee has (though, maybe not the kidnapping part). Tømmeraas’ performance is the perfect mix of dark and deceptive, while also embodying a pop star whom we can’t help but fall for.
The film perfectly balances girly tones with the dark and twisted ones. We can all relate to that feeling of being a fangirl, but the film gives us a glimpse into both worlds of the fan and the artist. Sweetness is an addictively dark story tied together by an incredible cast and shows that meeting your idols truly isn’t for the weak!
Sweetness is available for purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV now!
