JULIA is an emotionally powerful film. Its effectiveness rests solely on the big beautiful eyes of Ashley C. Williams, who plays the nebbish young weakling who begins to burn with rage, though her emotionless face doesn’t show it. Like Zoe Lund in MS. 45, Williams says it all with her eyes; hiding them behind thick glasses and downward glances avoiding eye contact. As Julia becomes more and more obsessed with revenge on her assailants—an act that Sgundud forbids, things take a pitch dark turn in this one as victim becomes predator towards anything with a penis. The transformation is subtle, but Williams is definitely undergoes a metamorphosis through this runtime—one that highlights the young actresses talent.

Matthew A. Brown, United States, 95 min, English.