Gray Matter (2023) || Movie Review

'Gray Matter (2023)' is a movie that has potential to become a fantastic movie but the script is messed up by the writer and the producers. Don't get me wrong, this movie is actually entertaining to watch but I can't say the same for the script and dialogues but it was not engaging for me. The story of this movie is interesting and attractive but that doesn't matter to the audience because the script has to be engaging and written in a way that makes the viewers interested in the movie.

'Gray Matter (2023)' is a sci-fi and thriller film that was directed by Meko Winbush and written by Philip Gelatt. It starred Mia Isaac, Jessica Frances Dukes, Garret Dillahunt, Andrew Liner, and Isabella Ferreira. The story of this movie revolves around a young teenage girl Aurora and her mother Ayla with powers. People with such powers are Psionic (people with telepathic and telekinetic powers). Ayla forbids her daughter from using her powers and also did everything within her power to shield Aurora from the society.

The movie started with Alya trying to destroy a building but her colleague Derek was with her begging her to think about what she was about to do and to change her mind. However, Ayla's mind was made up already because she had to achieve her goal. What is the goal? Soon the law enforcement came and Ayla ran away with Derek only for them to be caught by three officers. Not willing to surrender, Ayla used her power to disable them but in the process killed all the three officers.

Fastwarded to fifteen years later, Ayla now has a daughter Aurora with whom she lives with quietly and secretly. Ayla home schooled her daughter, trained her how to use her power religiously, and forbids her from using her powers in public, but Aurora hates her life. She feels trapped and doesn't understand why her mother takes such measures with her.

Adolescent stage of life is the stage when teenagers get to explore and also choose the path they want in life. Feeling caged, Aurora makes a new friend without her mother's knowledge. One day she sneaks out and unfortunately something bad happens which leads to her being captured by someone who she doesn't know. Now she has to fight for life alone from her mother. Will she survive? Who captured her?

My Review And Rating.

Like I said earlier, this movie has potential but it was destroyed by the script writer. The big flaw of this movie is the script and dialogues which is one of the most important aspects of a movie that determines the success in the box office. The script was poorly written, there was no spark in the dialogues, it was not engaging and it was generically written. The script was also very predictable even from the first 10 mins into the movie. One could easily predict how the movie would end and what happens next.

The Cast did a good job with their performance which made the movie watchable by so many people. Their performances cover their terrible script lapses that it was barely noticed if the viewer is not paying attention. The two main characters did well and they were able to portray the mother - daughter relationship strongly. They both clicked well and watching them was very relatable. They both portrayed their strength and weakness well so the viewers can experience their story from their perspective.

The scene arrangements were excellently done, the locations for the film was deserving and the ending scenes were filled with suspense and tension. The ending left me wanting more because I want to know what happens next but obviously that was the end. I commend the producers for that. The visuals were okay but that was not that impressive.

The cinematography and CGI were not excellently done considering the fact that technology has evolved and the viewers would expect to see something more spectacular than the last movie they watched. Now, I see more finely and neatly edited videos on social media with fantastic CGI and cinematography. Why not movies? What is the obstacle? Or do the producers employ incompetent cinematographers?

In my opinion, I thought this movie will be terrible because of my experience with "Project Greenlight (2023) series". Gray Matter is much more. It wasn't that bad. Rating this movie, I will give it 3.9 out of 5 stars and I am not sure I can recommend it to serious fans of sci-fi like me but if you're are not, I recommend watch this movie before watch *Project Greenlight". You will enjoy this movie more than I did.