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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Saturday 22 September 2018

‘Assassination Nation’ wants to get under your skin

By LINDSEY BAHR going to think it’s exploit-
Associated Press ative or disturbing. But I
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “As- love the juxtapositions of
sassination Nation” is trying what people feel about it.”
to make you uncomfort- But the film has not been
able. The film even starts out without its own controver-
with about a dozen “trig- sies.
ger warnings” previewing Hari Nef, a 25-year-old
the horror that is to come American actress who
in this internet age Salem plays the transgender char-
witch trial about four teen- acter Bex, said that she
age girls who become the thinks people are carrying
enemies of an entire town prejudice toward the film
when a hacker stars leak- because of the director.
ing individuals’ information. If there is a “type” of person
Morality, sexuality, female who would conjure up a
nudity, homophobia, mi- film like “Assassination Na-
sogyny, pornography, pe- tion,” Levinson, who’s the
dophilia, mob mentality son of “Diner” writer-direc-
and gun violence are just tor Barry Levinson, and also
a few of the subjects and white, straight and male,
taboos addressed in writ- probably wouldn’t be any-
er-director Sam Levinson’s one’s first guess.
purposefully insane film. “I think that some people
According to Levinson, it is In this July 19, 2018 file photo, Suki Waterhouse, left, and Hari Nef pose for a portrait to promote the walk into it wanting to find
simply about, “All the anxi- film “Assassination Nation” at Comic-Con International in San Diego. all of the reasons why this
eties and pressures and Associated Press person shouldn’t have
fears of growing up in the visive, but those who are on Young, the 20-year-old Aus- Sarah, said some of her made it,” said Nef.
digital age.” board are really and fully tralian actress who plays agents even cautioned “I do think that Sam is an
Out Friday, it’s the kind of on board. Levinson said its the lead character Lily. her against doing the film. exception. I’m fascinated
film that could become an unabashed outlandishness “You’re meant to look at That made her want to do by the white, straight, male
instant cult hit, or the sub- helped sell it to financers, this as a mirror and exam- it even more. critics who are like, ‘this is
ject of outrage, but it’s one even with its disquieting im- ine yourself and examine “I don’t expect everyone exploitative and within the
audiences will want to dis- ages and little-known cast. the world that you live in.” to like this movie,” Water- male gaze’...But if you talk
cuss after. “It’s a terrifying script. Truly Suki Waterhouse, 26, who house said. to (the cast), we’ll tell a dif-
It’s as provocative as it is di- terrifying,” said Odessa plays one of the girls, “I think some people are ferent story.”q

‘Trust Me’ is stellar thriller by

Hank Phillippi Ryan

By JEFF AYERS cant trial, Mercer can’t re-
Associated Press fuse. A television feed from
“Trust Me” (Forge Books), the courtroom to her living
by Hank Phillippi Ryan room will allow her to stay
A former journalist has a private while also rediscov-
chance at redemption and ering the joy of writing.
recovery of her shattered The issue Mercer has to
life when she receives an grapple with is the case
offer to write about a hei- itself. Ashlyn Bryant is ac-
nous trial in Hank Phillippi cused of murdering her
Ryan’s stellar thriller, “Trust young daughter. Her alibi
Me.” shifts constantly, and she
Mercer Hennessey was a seems to have excuses for
well-respected news writer every piece of evidence
but she gave it up to be provided by prosecutors.
with her family. She was a Mercer quickly sees the
loving wife and devoted case as a chance to move
mother, but an accident past the death of her hus- This cover image released
changed everything and band and daughter, and by Forge shows “Trust Me,” a
now she’s a widow. She she will do this by seeing novel by Hank Phillippi Ryan.
knows she needs to pick justice done in the trial Associated Press
herself up but doesn’t dare against Bryant. As Mercer table outcome. Can Mer-
take that first step back to digs deeper and begins to cer overcome her pain of
the real world. chronicle the proceedings, loss to uncover the truth?
When her former boss offers she begins to find holes Can she trust herself to
her the chance to write a that might change what find those journalistic skills
tell-all book about a signifi- she thought was an inevi- again?q