IMAGE+NATION Review: What Keeps You Alive puts a queer twist on a familiar horror trope

What Keeps You Alive was almost a very different film. Writer/director Colin Minihan’s same-sex thriller was originally written for a straight couple, until an 11th hour casting decision resulted in a lesbian couple being at the forefront of the film. That substitution thankfully makes for a much more interesting concept, one that drastically alters the tone and power dynamics of the film we ended up with.

Jackie (Hannah Emily Anderson) and Jules (Brittany Allen) are celebrating their one-year marriage anniversary at Jackie’s childhood home, a secluded lakeside cabin in the woods. They soon encounter their neighbour Sarah (Martha MacIsaac), a childhood friend of Jackie’s who knew her by a different name, quickly shattering the peaceful illusion of Jackie and Jules’ relationship.

If you prefer to walk into a film cold, stop reading now, as it’s impossible to discuss this film without referencing a major spoiler that happens in the film’s second act (consider that your warning). While the couple are exploring the woods following their blow-out argument the night before, Jackie suddenly pushes Jules off a high cliff, a move that truly comes as a shock if you haven’t seen any trailers for the film.

Jules manages to survive the fall, and eventually drags her mangled body back to the cabin, beginning a brutal game of cat and mouse as Jackie attempts to hunt down Jules in the surrounding wilderness.

Minihan touches on a number of genres throughout the course of the film, from survivalist horror to classic Hitchcockian suspense, without ever coming off as a simple retread. The film is also beautifully shot, with screensaver worthy images of the remote woods and the still lake, making for a sharp juxtaposition from the blood and gore that kick-off the second half of the film.

Brittany Allen shines here as the beleaguered Jules, both mentally and physically beaten down by her partner. Her pain, betrayal and confusion fully come through in Allen’s startling performance, and make even the increasingly hard-to-believe plot points seem somewhat plausible.

Hannah Emily Anderson is given less to do as the psychopathic Jackie, who simply alternates from a cold-blooded methodical maniac to the sweet and unassuming girlfriend when she needs to turn on the charm for Sarah and her husband (Joey Klein). It’s the more traditional performance of the pair, but Anderson still manages to unnerve in the precision-like way she handles the various obstacles put in her path, calmly moving from one horrific moment to the next.

If you can go along with the out-there plot elements, What Keeps You Alive is a lot of fun. The film attempts to tie Jackie’s behaviour into a broader discussion of nature vs. nurture which doesn’t really go anywhere, but on a purely visceral level Minihan delivers the goods.

One of the best looking horror films in years, the film’s style, classy orchestral score, and Allen’s raw performance elevates What Keeps You Alive from the hordes of similar-looking horror-thrillers crowding your streaming platform of choice. Seek this one out.

What Keeps You Alive screens as part of the IMAGE+NATION Montreal LESBIAN GAY BI TRANS Film Festival, on Friday, November 30th at 9:00 pm at Concordia’s Cinéma Alexandre de Sève. Tickets are available here.