MAGIC HOUR – Review by Monique Jones
Magic Hour is a raw, but still stylized, portrayal of grief, particularly of sudden grief. I felt like Magic Hour did its best to showcase how confusing and terrifying it can be to try to make sense of death, especially when you’re not expecting death to show up. The film also does its best to inject some small moments of humor, since sometimes grief can include strange moments of levity.
One aspect I thought could be a downside is how the film’s gay characters are portrayed. It’s great to have as diverse a cast as possible, and I understand the characters are part of Erin’s (Kate Aselton) chosen family. But I feel like they, especially the drag queens (led by RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Shangela and her makeup stylist/YouTube sensation Lushious Massacr) come off as magical tropes. The characters’ explanations of how gay people were seen as spiritual leaders in ancient times is true. But unfortunately, their dialogue seems to be used to explain why the characters are focused solely on Erin’s recovery. Another of Erin’s chosen family, Marshall (Brad Garrett) is positioned not so much as a magical token, but more as a brother, which makes him feel more fleshed out.
Magic Hour can be a powerful release for viewers who feel that film can help process the wildness of grief. The film shows how hard it can be to let go, and I think that can give some viewers a feeling of comfort. Too often, film and TV portray grief as something easy to get over, but it’s refreshing to see Magic Hour show the struggle in finding a “new normal” after death.
