Copyright theage
Around the parents at the height of the drama there’s a swirl of other characters, many offering support, but any of whom could be a suspect. Ana (Kartia Vergara) and Carrie (Sophia Lillis) are a couple of nannies who become friends at the park where their charges play after school. Jenny (Dakota Fanning) is a mother and marketing executive in publishing whose teacher husband Richie (Thomas Cocquerel) makes all the right noises about balancing work and home but does nothing of substance to support that. Colin (Jay Ellis), Marissa’s business partner, and Lia (Abby Elliott), Peter’s sister, seem to be harbouring shared secrets; even the disabled Brian (Daniel Monks), who is housed and employed by his brother Peter, could have a motive for being involved in the kidnapping. It’s a veritable rogues gallery – of ostensibly nice people. “I truly think this is a character piece in the skin of a thriller,” observes Spiro. “What’s so brilliant is that Megan has navigated this propulsive thriller while also giving quite important social commentary about what is going on in this world, what it’s like to parent in the 21st century, the difference between men and women, primary care versus secondary care in terms of parenting.” First and foremost, it is a “great thriller”, says Marchant. But beyond that, “it’s got something to say. “It talks about the inequality of domestic labour in many heterosexual relationships, how the balance can often be very much weighted on a woman,” says Marchant. “And also at times there is trial by media on women – it’s called All Her Fault for a reason. And it’s not just about one of the female characters, it’s about us forming very quick decisions about people, and how the media can manipulate that.” For Snook, the broader social commentary was something that appealed. “In most households, the women doing full-time work tend to also pick up the majority of the household work and domestic chores and parenting and family life, the logistics, the scheduling – the mental load of that tends to fall to the female partner in the marriage. And I think it should be equal.”
