Anniversary

Why I took it off the list:

The impressive cast led by Diane Lane and intriguing trailer made me want to check out this dystopian thriller as soon as possible.

And it seems it needs all the attention it can get, as studio Lionsgate supposedly buried it “because it is incendiary”.

So, let’s dig in!

Review of Anniversary (2025)

Anniversary tells the story of the affluent Taylor family: Georgetown University professor Ellen (Lane), her restaurant owner husband Paul (Kyle Chandler), and their four children, outspoken comedian Anna (Madeline Brewer), lawyer Cynthia (Zoey Deutch), writer Josh (Dylan O’Brian), and teenage Birdie (Mckenna Grace).

As the film begins, the 3 eldest kids, having long since flown the nest, return home for their parent’s 25th anniversary celebration, held in the garden of their cozy lakeside estate. However, Josh has brought a surprise: his new girlfriend, Liz (Phoebe Dynevor).

Liz is the first person we meet in the film, staring intensely into a mirror as she attempts to perfect her greeting to Josh’s parents. It seems innocent at first, a new partner simply to win over her new in-laws, but it’s soon revealed that Liz has more to prove than most.

At the party, Josh makes the introductions, but Ellen is notably cool towards Liz. Later, Liz approaches Ellen alone, and it’s revealed that the matriarch has recognized her as Elizabeth Nettles, a former student to whom Ellen gave a failing grade after being disturbed by her thesis advocating a totalitarian state.

Convinced that Liz is only dating her son as some sort of vengeance play, Ellen shares her concerns with Paul. He assures her that it’s simply a coincidence, people can change, and to give her the benefit of the doubt.

After the party, Ellen opens the anniversary gift from Josh and Liz. To her shock, Liz has published a book called The Change, which expands upon the ideas in her thesis. Nevertheless, Ellen is somewhat dismissive.

The action jumps to 2 years later, when the family has once again gathered, this time for Thanksgiving. It turns out that The Change has become hugely influential, catapulting a heavily pregnant Liz and Josh into fame and wealth.

Things are tense at the dining table thanks to Josh’s newfound arrogance, but they only get worse when Liz asks Ellen to introduce her as a guest speaker at an upcoming appearance at Georgetown. Incensed, Ellen lets out a vicious diatribe against the book, seemingly causing Liz to go into labor.

The film continues to jump ahead one year at a time, showing the loss of freedoms that gradually sneak up on the family as The Change movement picks up steam and opponents are silenced and ostracized, sometimes worse.

One of the first victims is Anna, who is attacked during a live stand-up show and forced to go into hiding. And Ellen loses her job after being filmed vandalizing the new flag representing the movement.

Soon, the Taylors are scrambling to find ways to survive under a growing totalitarian regime, as the family continues to fracture.

Powerful, with Incredible Performances

Depictions of the gradual loss of liberties under a growing fascist power are nothing new, see the excellent mini-series The Plot Against America, or even co-star Brewer’s The Handmaid’s Tale as examples.

But Anniversary makes the issue feel scarily, terrifyingly current. All of the characters are sharply drawn and incredibly relatable, so their struggles feel harrowing and tension-inducing.

The decision to keep the focus almost entirely on the Taylor home and jump to different celebrations, reminiscent of the similarly-themed, fantastic British series Years and Years, is effective, allowing us to feel the claustrophobia as it closes in.

And the entire cast is fantastic, with Lane doing some of her best work in years as an optimist who has faith in law and democracy until these ideals start to crumble around her, and she has to choose between her beliefs and her family.

Among a strong ensemble, Brewer stands out for her feisty and believable performance as Anna, while Deutch, Grace, and Dynevor expertly reveal the surprising depths of their characters through unexpected actions.

Final score: 9/10

Anniversary (2025): Worth Watching?

Yes, Anniversary is a tense dystopian thriller with rich characterization, excellent dialogue, and career-best performances from much of the cast.