LOST GIRLS -- An Exercise in Sadness

Review by Adam Donato

Photo Credit: Jessica Kourkounis.

Lost Girls is directed by Liz Garbus and stars Amy Ryan (The Office), Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit), and Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects). The story centers around a mother who is hellbent on finding out what happened to her missing daughter, despite the lack of help from the police. This movie was released on Netflix, which is a great idea due to the subject matter being something that has flourished on the streaming format and wouldn’t be a big, widespread success if it tested the waters in theaters. 

Right from the start, it is very obvious that this is a sad town movie with the words “An Unsolved American Mystery”. This movie is very enticing and has the viewer trying to solve the mystery, while tragically knowing that there is no answer. The subject matter of this movie is very touchy and will hit some people harder than others. For that reason, it’s hard to say who to recommend this movie to. This movie is a nightmare for anyone, especially mothers and daughters.

​Throughout the movie, it’s heartbreaking watching this woman do everything she can and not get anywhere with it. Not only is the investigation going south, but it’s negatively impacting the rest of her life. It’s a very depressing watch, but some people are into that. In their defense, it is easy to get sucked into this movie as it’s hard not to feel for everyone involved.

Photo Credit: Jessica Kourkounis.

​The performances were solid in this movie. Ryan does a very good job portraying a mother who is in distress. McKenzie does fine for what she is given, but this is a disappointment after seeing her talents used so well in Jojo Rabbit. Byrne as the lead investigator brings a solid veteran performance to the movie that worked very well. Not to mention, Dean Winters, whom most people will recognize as Mayhem from the Allstate commercials, is also in the film and does a good job. The entire cast does a very good job portraying the overall sadness of everyone involved in a situation like this. 

Lost Girls does not rise above other movies of this subgenre, but also succeeds in telling a compelling story. The brevity of the runtime works in favor of the movie as nobody wants to linger in sadness for too long. The message of holding your loved ones close is an admirable one. It’s hard to recommend this movie to anyone, but it does have value nevertheless.

Lost Girls is now streaming on Netflix.

​Rating: 3/5