What I liked
Everliegh has amazing comedic timing and physicality. Her commitment to whatever material she’s performing is inspiring. While uncomfortable, her directness and eye contact with her audience is impactful, pulls you in, and makes you one with her experience.
Shout out to the Dream Daddy character cameos that represented Em’s flings.
What I didn't like
I wanted to be on Em’s side the whole time, especially assuming she had experienced SA and her toxic behavior was her way of dealing with her trauma and pain. Although, it was sometimes hard to stick with her through repeated accounts of blackmail and assaults on strangers. I can see where the men’s affairs and general misogyny served as a reason for her actions to be justified, but I’d like to see a heroine that processes trauma without using the same practice of assault on others.
Although – I can appreciate Em as she is. Her imperfections are incredibly human, and like reality (more often than not), one’s healing journey can be messy and nonlinear.
My overall impression
Gut-wrenching and visceral (as trauma can be), Brave Face tells a story that countless survivors of SA could relate to through the experiences of Em. Reminiscent of Promising Young Woman, Em carries her pain into her adult life, taking it upon herself to enact revenge on the misogynists around her as surrogates for her first attacker. Packed with harsh imagery and dark comedy as a bandaid for the wounds of reality, this can be a triggering watch for some, but feel like sweet justice to others.
