This is the movie I have been waiting for. That may seem extreme but it's true. The director, Allred (also cinematographer), is a master of atmosphere, creating scenes that I believe will go down in cinema history. The story, while not action packed and high-stakes, is packed with internal stakes and layers of meaning and nuance. This is a cult classic in the making.

Definitely not the normal movie experience, and I appreciated that. Texture has similar aspects to Upstream Color by Shane Carruth, but is way grittier and sexier. The similarities lie in the cinematic language, which is poetic and symbolic. Also, something that surprised me is that there is an undertone of humor in this film that most people may not catch. It is as if it is constantly laughing at itself, not taking itself totally seriously, while seemingly being very serious. I do feel that there could be improvement with dialogue, but this film works on a deeper level, and so all of the other aspects are in service to a surrealistic experience that allows you to question reality in general, should you let yourself go into it.

The Texture of Falling is a bizarre and controversial film that left me immediately wanting to watch it again. It unravels an intricate web of a plot that is incredibly meta, and left me thinking about things on a quantum level. It taps into different aspects of sexuality and relationship processes, crafted in a way that reveals layers I never would have seen coming. It's ability to both tap into the parts of my psyche that are curious sexually, while triggering me too, it left me feeling expanded. I look forward to watching it again with an understanding of it's workings to pick up on the intricate subtleties that surely await. I can't wait to see what comes next from Maria Allred!

This film reaches far and ends up being a very entertaining and artistic viewing experience. I wasn't expecting much more than an indie romantic drama that takes place in the city I live, Portland, OR. I was so happy that the Portlandia-esque caricatures of liberals and potheads that I see depicted in other media were completely ignored and the real, and sometimes ugly personalities of this city were put in the spotlight. I don't actually think that I particularly liked any of the characters in this film, and that's refreshing! We're not given saccharine-sweet star-crossed lovers to tell us how we should feel watching their lives unfold. Figuring out the personalities of the characters is left entirely to the viewer. The female characters are particularly dominant in this film, and Maria Allred seems to be winking at the viewer each time the power dynamics shift in the relationships.The city itself feels like another character living side by side with the struggling couples, and ended up being my favorite aspect of the entire film. I don't think that I've ever seen a more accurate depiction of Portland in film. This movie is absolutely gorgeous to watch. I loved the lighting in each scene, and it felt very deliberate in creating the tone of the film. If you're a cinematography geek, you will not be disappointed. Portland is pretty :-)This film is not for the sleepers. In the vein of Momento, Eyes Wide Shut, or Black Swan- this movie requires concentration. Welcome to the Portland Art Scene.

The Texture of Falling is ultimately as beguiling as it is frustrating, with curiosity and a fascination for Allred's visual style compensating for a storyline the proves difficult to navigate.