Available today on Netflix, His True Face is a thriller starring Toni Collette who plays an ordinary mother. Until the moment when she kills a man who has caused a carnage in a restaurant…
What is it about ?
In a quiet Georgia town, a chance act of violence sets off an unexpected chain of events for Andy Oliver and his mother Laura. Determined to find answers to her questions, the young woman embarks on a dangerous journey across the United States, which will lead her to the heart of her family’s darkest secrets.
His true face, a series created by Charlotte Stoudt with Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, Omari Hardwick… Available on Netflix. Episodes viewed: 3 out of 8
Deceptive appearances
Adapted from the eponymous novel by Karin Slaughter, Her True Face follows the story of Andy (Bella Heathcote) who is caught up in a fatal shooting at a local restaurant while having lunch with her mother, Laura (Toni Collette), on the day of his 30 years. Moments later, she sees her mother eliminate the shooter with disconcerting ease.
As Andy seeks to decipher Laura’s behavior that day, his perspective on their entire family relationship takes a new turn. Shortly after, people from Laura’s past reappear. She forces her daughter to escape to protect her. During his journey, Andy attempts to piece together the remains of a truth his mother buried long ago.
MARK ROGERS/NETFLIX
On paper, these beginnings seem promising and the first episode ensures an effective and engaging start. But the story gets bogged down quickly. Despite the presence of Toni Collette – excellent in all circumstances – and despite her mysterious past which is at the heart of the plot, the script spends much more time following Andy. Against all logic.
This last part in a disjointed road trip and already seen a thousand times. We follow the commonplaces of fleeing into the unknown and investigating a mysterious past. And we are witnessing a sudden evolution of the character, anything but believable. From the young woman who does not know what to do with her life and rather apathetic, we move on to the super investigator who sneaks into places where she is not allowed to enter and who changes her appearance.
The other characters around are either non-existent or one-dimensional only serving the plot. And again… Barely halfway through, His true face accumulates too many inconsistencies for us to want to know its conclusion.