The Weekend Away (2022) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)
In this mystery, things twist and turn, and as our lead starts to figure things out, you question why is she confronting the person where she can be the next victim?
In this mystery, things twist and turn, and as our lead starts to figure things out, you question why is she confronting the person where she can be the next victim?
| Director(s) | Kim Farrant |
| Screenplay By | Sarah Alderson |
| Date Released | 3/3/2022 |
| Where To Watch | Netflix |
| Genre(s) | Crime, Drama, Mystery |
| Duration | 1 Hour and 31 Minutes |
| Content Rating | TV-14 |
| Noted Cast | |
| Rob | Luke Norris |
| Beth | Leighton Meester |
| Kate | Christina Wolfe |
| Zain | Ziad Bakri |
Film Summary
After having a baby, and more than a year of her marriage to Rob being rocky, Beth decides to finally take up her friend Kate on an offer to have a joint vacation. However, while at this luxurious Air B&B in Croatia, Kate decides to live up to her wild reputation, and overnight she goes from Beth’s favorite, vivacious friend to a dead woman. One who has long held a secret that makes all evidence point towards Beth being her killer.
Things To Note
- Reason(s) for Film Rating: Cursing (Some, but not where it is every other sentence), Violence (Yes, but minimal blood and the violence is mostly slapping, or maybe someone getting hit a few times. Nothing notable), Sexual Content (Implied sexual situations), Miscellaneous (Vomiting)
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.
Rob
Rob is Beth’s husband and father of their daughter Aster, who originates from London.
Beth
Originally from California but now living in London, Beth has spent a notable part of her life working throughout the world, including in Syria. Because of that and having a baby within the last year, Kate has long advocated for Beth to take a vacation, and Beth has finally agreed.
Kate
Recently divorced Kate is a wild child and has been since Beth met her back in their college days. Yet, despite being Beth’s opposite, they have long bonded and brought balance to one another’s life.
Zain
Zain is a Syrian immigrant (refugee) who is a cab driver in Croatia. But, before he had to leave his home country, he was training to be a nurse when in Syria, where he met his departed wife, a doctor.
Review
Highlights
The Twists and Turns Definitely Leave You Guessing
An American in a foreign place, attempting to avoid being prosecuted for their friend’s murder, is a familiar story, even real through Amanda Knox. And with watching Beth navigate not just what happened that night, but also understanding all the reasons people could assume she is the killer? It was quite a treat. In fact, the way The Weekend Away keeps pointing you towards this person and that person, it at times can be dizzying as you are truly led any of these people could have killed Kate if not worked together to cover it up.
For one thing, The Weekend Away does, which helps itself, is it makes sure everyone has a backstory or reason that makes sense. The cop has a low opinion of women who own their sexuality. The Air B&B owner is a bit off-putting, but that’s because he is used to people partying and messing up his home, so he has a watchful eye. Then, the boys from the club are escorts and thieves because Croatia isn’t the most economically prosperous country. Especially if you lack notable intelligence or athleticism. So taking advantage of tourists like Kate, who flaunt their money about, that’s how you make a living of some kind.
Now, this isn’t to say anyone’s reasons can justify their part in Kate’s demise, but it does keep you guessing throughout The Weekend Away.
Zain
I just love the fact Zain is innocent. He is the only Brown person seen throughout the film, a Syrian immigrant, and he is the most honest and kind person in the entire movie, and I’m including Beth in that. To me, it was just beautiful that he didn’t fit the narrative you can often see in films, and The Weekend Away used to make Zain a suspect.
On The Fence
While You Get Beth Has To Be Her Own Advocate, The Situations She Puts Herself In Lead You To Give Her The Side-eye
Beth is the type of character who feels the need to act on a discovery, even if her discovery has her in the room with the person she suspects. Then, to make things worse, she’ll confront that person, to their face, and do all the things which could make you question if she may live to get justice for her friend.
And may I add the level of frustration when she confronts people, especially when you consider how dangerous it is and that she has a baby at home? It just makes you wonder if she still is foggy from the stress of a newborn child. Because clearly, her common sense is off.
Overall
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
The Weekend Away does well in making it so anyone could be the killer, even our lead, but the path it takes to have our lead uncover the truth makes you get mad at her for being so reckless. Yet, pausing and taking a break is difficult for you so badly want to know the truth and figure out if your own assumption is right.
Hence the mixed label. While the mystery is good, the detective work is shoddy, and your investment is far more in the truth than Beth as a lead or a potential victim.
[ninja_tables id=”46802″]
