The Taking of Deborah Logan

The Taking of Deborah Logan is currently streaming in Australia on Bloodstream, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Philo, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch Jill Larson work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Bloodstream.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Taking of Deborah Logan is worth clearing space for. The Taking of Deborah Logan treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. What starts as a poignant medical documentary about Deborah Logan's descent into Alzheimer's disease and her daughter's struggles as caregiver degenerates into a maddening portrayal of dementia at its most frightening, as hair-raising events begin to plague the family and crew and an unspeakable malevolence threatens to tear the very fabric of sanity from them all. The writing gets a boost from Jill Larson and Anne Ramsay, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2014. The Taking of Deborah Logan is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, The Taking of Deborah Logan will keep you hooked. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Jill Larson carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.