PERSONAL SHOPPER

After Olivier Assayas directed Kirsten Stewart in 'Clouds of Sils Maria' he went on to write this film specifically for her to star in.  

She certainly rises to the occasion in what Wikipedia calls a supernatural psychological thriller, although that description doesn't really do justice to something as complex and multi-layered as this. 

Stewart plays Maureen, a personal shopper for a distant and unappreciative supermodel Kyra. Besides going about her unsatisfying job Maureen is spending time at the home of her late  brother Lewis.  Maureen and Lewis had promised each other that the first to die would send the other a signal from the afterlife, if there is one.

Things take an enigmatic turn when Maureen starts receiving mysterious text instructions from some unseen watcher, and then they take a melodramatic turn when Kyra is murdered.

There's a lot going on, superbly held together by the director and lead actor.  And it reaches a satisfying conclusion (for me) which brings together the separate story strands.

OK, so it's not quite the masterpiece that 'Clouds of Sils Maria' is but it is still a superior piece of cinema, and it would make a great double bill with 'The Night House', another film about grief, with supernatural elements, and which features a terrific lead performance.

RATING: ✓✓ Catch It If You Can