Peacock - 2010

Cilian Murphy as Anna in Peacock

Peacock... Where to begin. I was casually browsing a bunch of articles on horror-movies.ca and this film was mentioned on one of their top lists of 2010. A well-composed still from the film caught my eye and I decided to give it a watch (this is how I watch all of my movies!). What I didn't realize was that I was in for a crazed, Hitchock-ian adventure full of gender b(l)ending intrigue and mystery!

The story surrounds a man named John, whose private life as a bank clerk is suddenly turned upside down when a freight train derails and crashes into his yard. It is quickly revealed that John is a man with severe social and mental issues; he splits his personality between himself as John and a kindly woman (his "wife") named Anna. His small town community learns about Anna through the crash and John has to suddenly balance his dual lives in a way he never anticipated.

It is soon implied that his split personality disorder is the result of his mother's abusive treatment during his childhood, including a bizarre rape scenario with prostitute Maggie (played by Ellen Page). John then discovers that through this tryst, they produced a child, Jacob.

The mysteries of John's past continue to unfold while prying neighbors stalk. John slowly becomes more and more disturbed as Maggie enters his life and Anna takes over as the dominant personality. Anna "kills" John to protect Maggie and her son from John, who subconsciously planned to hurt Jacob. The film closes with a shot of Anna at peace, peeking through the curtains as a private woman.

From reading what I wrote above, this plot line sounds very confusing because it is! There are so many factors at play that the film is often hard to follow. However, I have a few theories about different factors in the film and their importance. For example, I feel that Anna is supposed to be a representation of the good mother that John never had. He "met her when his mother died" as a coping mechanism to his traumatic past. Meanwhile, John himself seems to represent the chaotic, rash and unfeeling character of his abusive mother. The train? Perhaps a simple catalyst in John's split life being stitched together.

I'd prefer to not get all Laura Mulvey on this review so lets just leave it in a simple way. Peacock is a great psychological thriller with some heavy handed mysterious aspects. The story can, at times, be confusing, but the dialogue is well written and brilliantly acted. Awash with natural light and empty interiors, Peacock also provides an interesting yet creepy visual experience.

It was quite good and I'd recommend it, if you can handle the psychological drama! If anything, I feel that the film is very open to interpretation. I'm saddened to read that it never got a theatrical release.