Safe (1995) ****

Safe (1995)—Todd Haynes' sophomore film—elicits Kubrickian calm to present the story of Carol, a bored rich housewife with a detached and somewhat insensitive husband living in L.A. who develops an inexplicable environmental illness that crumbles her fragile stability and eventually leads to her moving into a cult-like desert community called Wrenwood for treatment.

There are other films that deal in similar themes, but Safe does well to avoid feeling too familiar, thanks in large part to Moore's perfectly understated and brilliant performance, Hayne's appropriately flat direction and Ed Tomney's moody ambient score—all of these elements really sell the level of disconnect. The production design, costumes, cinematography and songs do an excellent job of capturing the late 80s as well.

*SPOILERS*

Toward the end of the film, as she struggles to comment on her condition, Carol's sad attempt at giving a birthday speech to her fellow Wrenwood residents proves just how hollow her existence is. She's surrounded by people with similar health issues, but they look at her like she's from another planet. In its climax, the film doesn't answer any questions and Carol, now in isolation, is more alone than ever—strangely, there is something simultaneously terrifying and comforting about that.