Seeking Valentina is a psychological thriller released in 2015, directed by Armin Nasseri and written by Kristin West. The movie follows Benjamin (Alex Rabin), a young man who becomes obsessed with Valentina (Kristin West), a beautiful and mysterious woman he meets on the street. As Benjamin tries to pursue Valentina, strange occurrences begin to happen around him. He starts to have nightmares and paranoid visions, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. At the same time, Valentina begins to pull away from him, leaving him confused and desperate.
The story takes place in Los Angeles, where Benjamin works as a writer and lives with his girlfriend Mona (Vida Ghaffari). Mona is supportive of his craft and encourages him to pursue his writing, but she also has her own secrets that she keeps from Benjamin.
As Benjamin's obsession with Valentina intensifies, he starts to neglect his work, friends, and even his relationship with Mona. His behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and he starts to lose touch with reality.
Throughout the movie, we see glimpses of Valentina's past, which reveals her own history of trauma and abuse. These flashbacks add depth and complexity to her character, making her more than just a one-dimensional love interest.
One of the strengths of this movie is its use of symbolism and visual storytelling. The filmmakers use a lot of dream-like sequences and surreal imagery to convey Benjamin's state of mind. These scenes are both beautiful and unsettling, and they add a layer of depth to the movie.
Another strength of the film is its performances. Alex Rabin delivers a convincing portrayal of a man on the brink of madness, and Kristin West brings a lot of nuance to her role as the enigmatic Valentina. Vida Ghaffari also shines as Mona, adding a lot of heart to the story.
However, the movie isn't without its flaws. Some of the dialogue feels clunky and forced, and some of the plot points feel underdeveloped. The ending may also leave some viewers feeling unsatisfied, as it leaves a lot of unanswered questions.
Overall, Seeking Valentina is a haunting and visually stunning thriller that explores themes of obsession, trauma, and mental illness. While it may not be a perfect movie, it's definitely worth checking out for fans of psychological thrillers.
Seeking Valentina is a 2015 horror movie with a runtime of 21 minutes.
