(CNN) "The Assistant" is a monster movie, one where you never see the creature -- an imperious entertainment mogul who terrorizes those who work for him, and preys on the young actresses that parade through the office. If that sounds like anyone in the headlines in the last few years, that's clearly the intent. Yet this micro-budgeted independent film is a bit too coy in its approach, conveying what's transpiring almost entirely through furtive glances and pained expressions. The movie still works, if somewhat marginally, in portraying the culture that allowed such behavior to fester, the mix of fear and going along, coupled with a fleeting compliment and the burning desire to get ahead. Much of that unfolds through the watchful eyes of Jane ("Ozark's" Julia Garner, terrific there and here), a recent college graduate and relatively new arrival at the company.

Source: CNN January 31, 2020 17:03 UTC