DISCLAIMER: This review of Hulu’s Jagged Mind contains spoilers.
What happens when you’re perpetually stuck reliving the same events while memories of past moments seep through the mental cracks? Billie, a woman residing in Miami’s Little Haiti, will tell you it’s hell on Earth. Unfortunately, this starts when Billie begins dating an enigmatic woman named Alex. Hulu’s latest horror thriller, Jagged Mind, seeks to move beyond genre conventions to depict a tale of gaslighting and abuse.
Here’s a brief synopsis per Hulu:
“When Billie starts dating a mysterious new girlfriend, she suffers blackouts and strange visions that feel like she’s living the same moments of her life over and over.”
Jagged Mind stars Maisie Richardson-Sellers as Billie and Shannon Woodward as Alex, Billie’s aforementioned girlfriend. The supporting cast includes Rosaline Elbay as Christine, Shein Mompremier as Rose and Jimmy Jean-Louis as Papa Juste. Kelley Kali directs from Allyson Morgan‘s script.
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Subverting Genre Conventions
Jagged Mind has a bit of everything. Science fiction, fantasy, horror and psychological thriller elements meld to tell Billie’s story. Kali’s direction and Morgan’s script tag-team to knock this aspect of the film out of the park. Kali, in particular, utilizes camera tricks and an intriguing color palette to send viewers on an immersive, trippy adventure. The luminous blues and reds represent the duality between Billie as the protagonist and Alex as the antagonist. Kali at the helm is easily one of the strongest parts of this movie.
These visual elements convey the nature of Billie’s blackouts by seamlessly weaving them into the time loops and how they relate to what Billie may or may not have experienced. The presentation of these genre components alone is worth giving this flick a watch.
Narratively, the story takes a minute to get going. It slowly lays the groundwork for Billie and Alex, mainly as we learn about the darker parts of the latter. There is some disjointedness in the plot’s pacing, but I can easily overlook that.
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While Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Shannon Woodward have sizzling chemistry, to be sure, I’m not sure I buy Woodward as a villain. She doesn’t come across as entirely believable to me. Once the film picks up steam, though, she seems to have a firmer grasp on the role, but it’s a little uneven. That said, Alex’s behavior is reprehensible, making her a terrifying obstacle for Billie. Richardson-Sellers is sensational. She 100 percent gives her all as Billie and mines her character’s depths for nuance.
Some of the film’s thematic cruxes are racism, partner abuse and gaslighting—particularly abuse against women of color and queer women. Alex is the definition of the white savior complex and white folks fetishizing Black women. She also represents white folks’ historical penchant for stealing from Black people (the crystal). The multigenre nature of Jagged Mind lends itself well to addressing these themes.
I love that this isn’t a tragic coming-out story and that the film simply begins with two women dating. There’s no unnecessary fanfare about it — they just are.
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The ending is a unique twist and a fresh spin on psychological horror thrillers. The queer Black woman triumphs! It’s a rarity in this genre but a delight nonetheless. Seldom do these types of stories have a happy ending. I love that Jagged Mind turns this trope on its head and upends conventional story structures.
The narrative not only gives Billie agency and validates her experience, i.e., she doesn’t have a mental illness like others gaslit her into believing. It also allows her to return something of value to the Haitian community. Billie seizing control of the crystal is a beautiful way for her to regain her power.
Overall, Jagged Mind is a fun watch for Pride Month and beyond that’s worth a sit-down for the compelling premise alone. It’s an empowering tale of victory for queer Black women that’s grounded in realism despite its genre elements. The film would still work without them. It’s not uncommon for abuse victims to question their memories. However, the experimentation with time loops and magic adds an exciting facet to a horrifying story.
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Jagged Mind is now streaming on Hulu.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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