Who doesn’t love a good whodunit? The setting is usually so simple that you don’t expect anything to go wrong. The characters are relatable and only a little off-kilter to make you trust only your instincts. As soon as you start to settle in, something criminal happens, thereby sending everything into a state of chaos. And the best part is when it all comes together in the most satisfying, cathartic, and sometimes anticlimactic fashion imaginable. I have grown up reading and watching anything that’s related to Satyajit Ray’s Feluda. Which obviously means that I have read and watched almost everything that has “Sherlock Holmes” written on it. Amongst the more recent stuff, I think Game Night is a masterpiece. The Knives Out movies are excellent. Neeyat and A Haunting in Venice really caught me by surprise. Also, Bodies Bodies Bodies has to be one of the most subversive whodunits out there. So, where does the topic of today’s discussion, Glass Casa, land in this list of great crime thrillers? Let’s find out.
Laa Marcus’ Glass Casa tells the story of the bride-to-be, Jamie, her pregnant sister, Drew, and their friends, Bianca and Evie, who arrive at a smart house for Jamie’s bachelorette party. Right from the get-go, things start to seem off because there’s a drifter, Charlie, living in the basement. The girls manage to get him off the premises, but given how Charlie is the only one who can properly maneuver the apps and gadgets that govern the titular building, they have to put their apprehensions on hold and let the dude hang around. Before they’re done digesting this revelation, a stripper shows up, even though Jamie had specifically asked her friends not to hire any strippers just because it’s a bachelorette party. But since Pete and his accoutrements are already there, the girls convince Jamie to let him do his thing. Later on, Evie does Pete because, when in Rome. However, a few moments later, when the girls and Charlie find Pete’s dead body, they realize there’s a killer on the loose and they need to either nab the perpetrator or escape the premises as soon as possible, or they’ll end up like Pete.
Glass Casa is a fine whodunit if you take it on face value. There’s a dead body, there are some questionable characters, there’s a lot of discussing and theorizing (that too on drugs), and then there’s the final flourish, which not only surprises the characters but the viewers as well. And if that’s what you are looking for, that’s exactly what you’ll get. But if you dig just a little deeper into the narrative, you’ll find Laa Marcus conversing with the entirety of the whodunit subgenre. Through the protagonist, Jamie, who happens to be writing a mystery thriller herself, she is analyzing the structure of these fictional mysteries and whether or not things play out in the same manner in real life. She is wondering if an acute knowledge of whodunits and murder mysteries can help you in any way if you find yourself in the middle of a real-life crime thriller. And she is telling women to trust their instinct when it comes to, well, anything. No matter how preposterous a decision may initially seem, a woman is rarely wrong about a situation or a man, because they’ve been unknowingly preparing for such scenarios their whole life. Hence, when push comes to shove, Marcus wants women to rely on their gut because it’ll take them in the right direction.
Talking about direction, Marcus’ handling of tone in Glass Casa is pretty good. Despite the death and the drugs, she keeps things lighthearted. That sort of accentuates the movie’s commentary on how our obsession with the true crime genre has caused us to dissociate with real-life tragedy because we are constantly seeing everything through the lens of storytelling and “drama.” It’s only after the stakes get a little too personal for the core group that Marcus begins to turn up the heat and makes the audience feel the gravity of what’s unfolding. If it’s not clear from the title already, yes, the whole film takes place in one location. Although I’m not a fan of big houses, I’ll say that it’s a pretty good house. The cinematography and editing are quite excellent as they make the most of the limited space. Now, while most movies and shows need CGI and VFX to achieve the dollhouse or the diorama effect, I think Marcus and the cinematographer, Broomberg, have done the same practically, with the help of proper lighting, framing, and a drone. You’ll know it when you see it. In addition to all that, I think the final 30 minutes of the movie are perfect. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for you; all I’ll say is that I wish the film had more of that mixture of tension, action, and dynamic filmmaking.
The entire cast of Glass Casa is brilliant. Harley Bronwyn is so good as the protagonist. The way she portrays her character’s disillusionment is just great. Nicole Clifford “tripping balls” is, to be honest, Oscar-worthy. It’s tough to convincingly pull off the effects of acid without any of those fancy digital effects and whatnot, but Clifford makes it look like a walk in the park. All of her overdramatic, Shakespearean outbursts are amazing. Also, props to her for doing the entire movie in that dragon costume (or whatever animal it was supposed to be) while the rest of the cast got to change outfits. Geri Courtney-Austein’s whole “I’m on the brink of freaking out, but I’m willing to do anything to save my friends” act is excellent. Everyone deserves a friend like Evie. Alison Iles, as the mother of the group and the voice of reason, is splendid. Jon Huybrecht and his dance moves are laudable. Anthony De La Cruz’s cameo is fine. Justin Michael Terry almost steals the spotlight with his laid-back and unpredictable performance. That said, it’s Travis Laughlin who gets to hog the limelight, and rightfully so. The guy oozes charisma. His dialogue delivery is stunning. I just hope he gets a star-making, action-oriented role soon, because I think he’ll be ideal for a project like that.
Glass Casa is a really enjoyable whodunit, especially if you are watching it during the wedding season, like I am. Also, we need more “bachelorette party gone wrong” movies in the world. I remember Rough Night, from 2017, starring Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Zoe Kravitz, Ilana Glazer, and Jillian Bell. 2018’s Killer Kate had quite a bit of mayhem at a bachelorette party. And then there’s the 2022 film Sissy, starring the hugely talented Aisha Dee, where a seemingly innocent bachelorette party turns into a quest for revenge. But, yes, all those movies can be a little hard on the senses. In that case, Laa Marcus’ feature film debut is a superb choice. It’s funny. It’s consistently entertaining. I think you can enjoy it while you are high, because some of the characters are, thereby getting the 4DX experience. You can enjoy it sober as well. That said, regardless of what state you are in when you press play on the film, do strap yourselves in before the third act because it’s one wild ride.
