Only Parent Guide

Life is good for Will (Leslie Odom Jr.) and Eva (Freida Pinto). They have just moved in together and are looking forward to the future. Then a comet passes through the atmosphere and releases toxic ash, which causes a lethal disease. The catch? Only women are vulnerable to the effects, with men being potential asymptomatic carriers. The government starts a thoroughly dystopian program, the purpose of which seems to be to kidnap women and harvest their eggs to replenish the population, and bounty hunters who return with live women or eggs are offered handsome rewards. When Eva is stricken with the virus, she and Will decide to spend her last days somewhere beautiful; not in the cramped apartment where she has hidden for two years. But the trip is dangerous, and if Eva is exposed, she could be killed…or worse.

My biggest issue with this movie is how rampantly paternalistic it is. Eva is almost entirely helpless, following instructions from either her husband or her father, and all of her decisions are painted as irrational or emotional. Despite the fact that Eva is her own person, possessed of her own feelings and desires, anytime she tries to act of her own accord, her decisions are portrayed as childish or insipid.

That said, I think the film is largely well-intentioned – it’s not as if it paints a world without women as some kind of paradise. The characters face genuinely difficult choices, and their responses are interesting and thought provoking. Production values are good considering that the film clearly wasn’t made on a huge budget. Scenes are deliberately constructed so as not to require any complex effects, digital or practical. This also helps the movie stay focused on the interpersonal relationships, which is a benefit.

Not surprisingly, Only isn’t suitable for young viewers. The content is sometimes quite disturbing and even adults may well find themselves unsettled, especially if they are watching the film in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Aside from the overall peril, the violence on screen is toned down, with a few depictions of blood and injury, but nothing lingering or overly detailed. The sexual content is similarly dialed back: there are scenes of implied nudity, but nothing explicit can be seen between deep shadows and long hair. Swearing is easily the biggest concern, with over a dozen extreme profanities sprinkled throughout the 98 minute runtime.

Only doesn’t break any new ground in post-apocalyptic filmmaking, but it’s largely competent – if irritatingly paternalistic. If Eva had been written with more agency, the film might have been a good deal more watchable. As is, it’s bland but not unpalatable. Oh, and hugely depressing, but that describes a lot of films I like. It’s all about how good the depressing is. Relatively speaking, of course.