Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Anniversary is an intelligent political thriller that keeps things all in the family.

On Ellen and Paul’s (Diane Lane and Kyle Chandler) wedding anniversary, all their children come home to celebrate. Their son Josh (Dylan O’Brien) brings home his new girlfriend, Liz (Phoebe Dynevor), to meet the parents. It turns out Ellen knows Liz. She taught her at university and tore her thesis, “The Change”, apart. Considered it a calling for the end of democracy. Now, years later, Liz has a book deal, and a longer manifesto called “The Change” will be unleashed on America. This causes the close-knit family — and America — to be caught in turmoil over the controversial rising movement.

There have been many political thrillers about controversial rising political movements. Many of them look at the broad picture, showing how all of America has been thrown into unrest. Anniversary has a different take. Instead of looking outward, it looks inward. Focusing on one close-knit family with ardent political beliefs that this new ideology can rip apart. Liz’s role in “The Change” brings simmering conflicts to the surface, unraveling the fabric of the family during a challenging time of uncertainty.

Director Jan Komasa is unafraid to allow his audience to be uncomfortable. He makes room for the ideologies to settle with the viewer. The human mind is malleable. Komasa sits with Liz in her explanation of “The Change,” and we find ourselves even convinced it’s for the better. Liz may be the hardest character in Anniversary to portray. She needs to be mysterious enough to consistently spark questions from the audience. Yet, she needs to have warmth for us to believe that her manifesto is the right move for America. Komasa found the perfect casting in Dynevor. She’s a force that plays charm, innocence and cunning all at once.

Some may think the back-and-forth between the family and their political views becomes redundant. Yet, no one will want to look away due to the stellar cast. They make the lengthy, dialogue-heavy scenes feel like a quick car chase. Lane is formidable as a mother who unravels as she loses more of her family. Chandler plays Paul has an immovable rock. He’s quiet and introspective, meditating on how his family has become this way. The rest of the cast of family members (Madeline Brewer, Zoey Deutch, McKenna Grace, Dylan O’Brien, and Daryl McCormack) leave an indelible mark as young people navigating their way through the turmoil.

Cineplex Pictures release ANNIVERSARY on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.