Title: Audrey
MPA Rating: Not Yet Rated
Director: Natalie Bailey
Starring: Jackie van Beek, James Lindsay Taylor, Josephine Blazier
Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins
What It Is: A middle-aged actress, Ronnie Lipsick (van Beek), lives vicariously through her spoiled daughter, Audrey (Blazier), as she desperately chases the fading glory of her former fame. Their escalating conflict drives Audrey to a drastic, albeit “accidental,” suicide attempt that leaves her in a coma.
In Audrey’s absence, the Lipsick family—including Ronnie’s repressed bisexual husband, Cormack (Taylor), and their overlooked, handicapped daughter, Norah (Diviney)—find their lives unexpectedly improving. However, just when it seems like things are finally taking a turn for the better… Audrey wakes up.
What We Think: Any film starring Filmsnob-favorite Jackie van Beek (Nude Tuesday, What We Do In The Shadows) is bound to be a hit. In a movie that could have easily turned cheesy, overly quirky, or simply fallen flat in its fragile balancing act of dark humor, this twisted Aussie family comedy succeeds with its sharp wit, vibrant energy, and stellar performances.
Van Beek shines once again as fame-hungry mom Ronnie—both ridiculously self-centered and pitifully relatable. The entire Lipsick family cast delivers excellent performances, each as funny as they are grounded.
Rest assured, this offbeat comedy romp is sure to get plenty of laughs, thanks to its lively tone, messy characters, and well-placed pop culture needle drops. It masterfully balances dark humor with heartfelt story beats, making it a perfect choice for a movie night alongside titles like Mean Girls or Drop Dead Gorgeous.
Director Natalie Bailey brings a keen, colorful vision to the film, delivering something that feels like a dark fantasy—one in which a mother and her family quietly devour the very person who’s been holding their egos back.
Our Grade: B, A sharp comedic vision that’s worth watching with your parents—who might, perhaps terrifyingly, find some dark pleasure in it—Audrey is a fun, twisted comedy with pitch-perfect production. In fact, it’s so well-executed that I could easily see it adapted into a series or mini-series.