Alice Oscura, Featured Writer
Disclaimer: The following contains minor spoilers.
Released on the 16th of May, the American psychological thriller Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025), which stars Canadian singer Abel Tesafaye, aka The Weeknd, has received mostly negative reviews from critics and audiences. Some stated that the film was egotistical and, to quote directly, a “vanity project,” with others accusing the singer of using it as a plug to promote his recent album of the same name.
Personally, I feel that they are being a bit harsh. We can’t forget that many modern-day singers have been influenced by the style and artistry of some of the music industry’s powerhouses. In fact, one particular name stands out to me, and that’s Michael Jackson. He’s been quoted numerous times saying he preferred to call his music videos short films. Many have adapted this style to add entertainment to their loyal fan base. So why can’t The Weeknd have a full-length feature film?
Hurry Up Tomorrow was directed by Trey Edward Shults (It Comes at Night, 2017) and was co-written and produced by Shults, Tesafaye, and Reza Fahim (The Idol, 2023). Late American film and television producer Kevin Turen also served as a producer. The film is actually one of the final films to be produced by Turen since he died in 2023 suddenly of cardiac arrest. There’s a posthumous dedication to Turen in the ending credits of the film.
The plot follows a fictionalised version of Tesafaye who is suffering from acute depression and insomnia due to the recent breakup of a long-term relationship. Playing the role of his ex is Elvis Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough, whose image is seen briefly in photos and voice heard through a voice message in the opening sequence of the film. Keough’s voice is also used for Jenna Ortega’s character’s mother.
As the singer struggles to find a way to reconcile, his self-destructive behavior, which includes indulging in some hardcore narcotics, causes his self-confidence to decline as his life begins to spiral out of his control. His manager, Lee (Barry Keoghan of Eternals, Saltburn), does nothing but enable the destructive behavior of the singer since his main goal is to get the performer on stage to keep him on track for the music tour. Actress Jenna Ortega (Wednesday, Scream VI) plays the role of a mysteriously unhinged stranger named Anima.
The audience gets very little in terms of the backstory of this character which is more than a bit frustrating. The only hypothesis that we can deduce is that she’s an arsonist who’s going through some hardcore mental challenges, in addition to the fact that she’s obsessed with The Weeknd. Anima soon becomes the catalyst to help Tesafaye face the hidden truth about his destructive behavior and why he sabotages his romantic relationships.
The problem here is that it is not a well-written script; there are many plot holes due to the underdevelopment of key characters. Also, Tesafaye is clearly not the best at acting. His facial expressions are a bit off in certain pivotal sequences which had me snickering at times when you really should not be. However, I can still appreciate the effort made behind the psychological nature of the story, and its message. There’s not always glitz and glamour behind the scenes. There’s always a mountain of pressure to top the last album not to mention the mental and physical exhaustion that comes with touring to promote albums. Fame is not always what it’s cracked up to be and it can be a destructive force if not well managed.
To conclude, it’s not a terrible film, but it could have been better written, and Tesafaye could use some guidance from an acting coach. If you’re a fan of The Weeknd and his music you’ll definitely get a kick out of seeing Jenna Ortega’s insane dancing to a couple of his popular songs.
TRIVIA: The scene in the film where The Weeknd loses his voice while performing is based on a real incident that occurred during one of his concerts in Los Angeles in 2022. The singer was diagnosed with the sudden onset of vocal cord inflammation which causes a lack of vocal control brought on by stress and self-imposed pressure.
Dark Alice Score: 5 out of 10
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Alice has an old soul and a curious mind. I believe that anyone can be a hero and that the good guys should always win! I dislike cruelty to animals and think that they have far superior qualities to humans. My motto is there is no future without the past. I also have a weird penchant for Paranormal TV shows even though the slightest sound makes me jump. I enjoy writing reviews and throwing in fun facts to pique the readers’ curiosity. My ultimate goal in life would be to become a published writer one day. Read More