Starred review from June 28, 2021
Viv and Thomas Adler, the outwardly successful Portland, Ore., couple at the center of this highly entertaining domestic thriller from Harding (The Swap), appear to have the perfect life. So why is someone targeting them with such late-night harassments as pelting their home with eggs and rotten vegetables? Burdened with financial woes, Viv and Thomas and their two children are falling apart. Viv, who views her interior decorating business as more like a hobby, steals little things from friends and clients. Moreover, she’s convinced that Thomas, a real estate broker, is cheating on her, though he worries about betraying her in a worse way. College sophomore Eli, who’s home for the summer, won’t say why he’s dropping out, while 17-year-old Tarryn sequesters herself in her basement bedroom, dressed in sexy lingerie and a wig, talking with well-paying customers in a private online chat room. Each of their secrets is potentially devastating, yet none seems powerful enough to provoke the escalating attacks. The brisk plot takes several clever twists before building to a shocking act of violence. Harding is sure to win new fans with this one. Agent: Joseph Veltre, Gersh Agency.