In a bold bid to shake up the rom-com formula, Netflix's 'Voicemails for Isabelle' hurtles headfirst into the heart of darkness, only to fizzle out in an uncomfortable heap. This bewildering blend of sweet romance and unsettling thriller elements has left critics and viewers alike scratching their heads – is it a charming, genre-bending masterpiece or a creepy, cringeworthy misfire?
The film tells the tale of Jill (Zoey Deutch), reeling from the loss of her sister, who finds solace in leaving heartfelt voicemails on her late sibling's phone. Unbeknownst to Jill, these intimate messages have been intercepted by a stranger named Wes (Nick Robinson), who uses this intel to track her down and insert himself into her life – all while keeping the truth about their 'meet-cute' under wraps.
Writer-director Leah McKendrick seems aware of the elephant in the room, with characters poking fun at Wes's questionable motives and labelling him a 'creeper'. But instead of fully embracing the edginess or subverting the genre, the film attempts to have its cake and eat it – poking fun at the absurdity while still expecting audiences to buy into a conventional romance. This awkward balancing act has left some viewers feeling uneasy, unsure whether they're supposed to be rooting for Wes's unconventional courtship or recoiling in horror.
The film boasts a polished aesthetic, thanks in part to its production as one of Sony's collaborations with Netflix – giving it a sleeker look than many of the streamer's typical output. It also incorporates modern dating terminology like 'gaslit' and 'love bombing', aiming for a contemporary feel that nods to the glossy product-placement heavy style of early 2000s rom-coms. However, critics argue that this slick surface can't paper over the cracks in its problematic core premise – leaving viewers feeling neither fully invested nor genuinely terrified.
With comparisons drawn to recent films like 'Love Again', which also featured a grieving protagonist communicating with their deceased partner's phone only to have messages intercepted by a stranger, 'Voicemails for Isabelle' seems to be trying too hard to reinvent the wheel. While it wears its affection for rom-com tropes on its sleeve, this film ultimately falls short of delivering a truly engaging or innovative take on the genre – leaving audiences wondering what could have been.