The Boy Downstairs

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Plain character writing that's very generic. I couldn't stand the main character's hairstyle, and I know that doesn't matter but it bothered me a lot lmfao. Felt no depth for the characters and the plot was very predictable. Not worth the watch imo as it doesn't offer anything new or exciting. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/08/24 Full Review Tori B I absolutely loved this film. It is not one of those movies with a big dramatic twist and turn that shocks you, it is just a good simple indie movie that is very realistic in it's plot and characters that most people can relate too. The acting is fantastic and the characters are portrayed perfectly in such a charming, endearing manner. I loved it and will recommend it to those who enjoy small indie films such as I do! There's not a lot of films that I find "realistic" and this is absolutely one of them! So well done! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/24 Full Review Aaron S What an honest little movie. It doesn't overreach its small space it's able to occupy and it doesn't try to say anything besides the fact the idea of "not knowing" is hard. Uncertainty and the anxiety that surrounds that is something that permeates young adulthood and frankly, I haven't been able to shake it as I grow older. Maybe nobody does and people are just really good at looking sure of themselves. In any case, what Diana (Mamet) is so good at communicating is that while your life can be overall stable in the grand scheme of things - she's got a cool ass apartment, friends, she's beautiful - that sense of instability can be looking over your shoulder at any moment. It's funny to say as a late 30's married man, but Mamet was a warm hug of relatability in The Boy Downstairs and while its story isn't exactly unique, her charisma and the charm of this movie really won me over. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Barbara S If you like obnoxious millennials this is the movie for you. The main character has that voice fry down to a fine art and the constant use of so and yeah is nauseating. I got about 10 mins in and had to stop... Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/03/23 Full Review Roger H Most rom-coms are 100% phony, and the few that aren't are 98% phony. This one doesn't feel phony at all. The plotline doesn't have any particularly original to offer, but then don't most relationships tend to follow a few timeworn paths? This movie shows that a straightforward portrayal of the common relationship joys and heartbreaks can be tremendously moving, even without a murder plot or a bunch of yelling and screaming. Zosia Mamet's tremendous performance brings the whole movie to life. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/06/22 Full Review Audience Member I was nervous at the beginning of this movie, as we quickly get the typical quirky-white-girl (Zosia Mamet)-moves-to-NYC-to-be-a-writer-but-works-in-the-service-industry (wedding dress shop)-and-somehow-can-afford-to-live-in-a-gorgeous-airy-classic-brownstone, but going forward, The Boy Downstairs was an enjoyable watch. Mamet was one of the more likable characters on HBO's Girls, but suffered from having the worst-written arc. Since then, I don't believe I've seen her in anything, and found her presence refreshing — given the initial concerns — and her wit authentic and unforced. Diana (Mamet) moves into a building wherein, unknowingly, her ex-boyfriend, Ben (Matthew Shear), lives downstairs. This plot could've taken a silly turn, amounting to silly run-ins and moments of silly happenstance, but instead it covers all the bases of awkwardness, jealousy, and re-surfacing feelings expected in the set-up, but keeps it grounded. The film mixes in flashbacks of Diana and Ben's first date, move-in, and break-up, which sometimes became a little confusing. There's a pretty good "Declaration of Loveologue"™ and I think an answer to the "will they or won't they?" plot. Sure, some of the film plays like a fantasy — besides the apartment, Diana has the greatest relationship a tenant has had with her landlord (Deirdre O'Connell) ever put on screen — but The Boy Downstairs never gets smarmy, saccharine, silly, and most importantly, boring. *Last note, the "Radiohead" line is laugh-out-loud funny. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Boy Downstairs

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