Fingernails – Review and Summary

General Information

Director(s)	Christos Nikou
Screenplay By	Christos Nikou, Sam Steiner, Stavros Raptis
Based On	N/A
Date Released (Film Festival – Montclair Film Festival)	October 21, 2023
Date Released (Apple TV Plus)	November 3, 2023
Genre(s)	Romance, Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Film Length	1 Hour 53 Minutes
Content Rating	Rated R
Noted Characters and Cast
Anna	Jessie Buckley
Ryan	Jeremy Allen White
Amir	Riz Ahmed

Content Rating Explanation

“Fingernails” contains:

• Dialog: Some Cursing
• Violence: Voluntarily having a fingernail pulled off
• Sexual Content: Implied nudity
• Miscellaneous: Nothing notable

Film Summary

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In the not-so-distant future, a test has been created that can tell you if both parties are in love and a match. This test has destroyed many a marriage and relationship, and for Anna, who was supposed to be perfect for Ryan, she questions if that still holds true. Ryan might be happy with the routine they have developed, but she isn’t. Add in developing feelings for someone at work, Amir, and Anna, who works at an institute to train couples to pass the love test, seems to wonder if too much faith has been placed in a technology not many understand.

Other Noteworthy Information

1. The reason the film is named “Fingernails” is because the test used to see if you are a match with someone requires having a fingernail pulled off.

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.

Anna

With a background primarily in elementary education, it could be considered a leap that Anna wants to work for an institute made to improve relationships and help couples pass the love test. However, like many, she wants a better understanding of love, especially as her relationship hits a dry period.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Men.”

Ryan

Employed and responsible, but a little too much for routine, passing the test of love has made Ryan a bit of a bore as a partner, and he seems unaware of the issues in his relationship.

• The actor is also known for their role in “After Everything” and their role in “Bad Turn Worse (We Gotta Get Out of This Place).”

Amir

Amir is Anna’s mentor at the institute who, the more she works with, the more she is intrigued.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Nightcrawler,” their role in “Sound of Metal,” and their role in “Nimona.”

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

On The Fence

The Chemistry Is Lukewarm, And Very Little Happens Of Note Across Two Hours

You likely will not care about Anna’s ultimate decision. Will she stay with her boyfriend, be more direct and work on that relationship, or explore the crush with Amir? Neither option is enticing because, in this world they live in where so many have handed over whether their relationship will survive based on a test? Never mind one done by a computer that looks like it is from the 80s?

But what makes matters worse is, as individuals, no one has that charm or thing that draws you in, really. Watching Anna’s lip raise a bit when curious or intrigued is a cute feature, but because there is very little about the men she deals with that is interesting, it is wasted. What does Ryan have that attracted her beyond his looks? Is Amir’s expertise on what can bond people together what is supposed to be seen as attractive?

Heck, while curious and willing to make an effort in her relationship, what does Anna bring that makes her a potentially good partner?

These issues, alongside minimal information on how the world became reliant on a test to determine if you are meant to be with someone, makes the two hours this film has utterly sluggish.

Who Is This For?

Those who enjoy romance dramas with a dash of sci-fi in there.

Recommendations

If you like this movie, we recommend:

1. Foe: “Foe” is also a sci-fi drama focused on romance complicated by one woman feeling pulled between two men

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