No one knows the name BT Meza, but after his feature debut, which he wrote and directed, everyone is going to have some Affection for him. The film is an unsettling nightmare that no one ever wants to experience. Whenever the audience thinks they know where the movie is going, it decides to zag instead of zig, creating a deeply unsettling environment. With a masterclass performance from Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day series; Imposters), Affection will linger under your skin way past the 90-minute run time.
L-R: Jessica Rothe as Ellie and Joseph Cross as Bruce in AFFECTION. Photo courtesy of Brainstorm Media.
Affection focuses on Ellie (Jessica Rothe). At the very beginning of the movie, it seems like she’s in a horrific accident and her husband Bruce (Joseph Cross) shows up beside her moments later. Ellie starts freaking out, claiming she has absolutely no idea who he is, claims her name isn’t Ellie, and is just so utterly confused, disoriented, and scared. Bruce tries to explain to her that her name is Ellie, they have a daughter, Alice (Julianna Layne), and she is suffering from a memory lapse due to the accident and just needs to calm down, allow her memory to be repaired, and let the memories flow back. There is something unsettling about this as Bruce seems *off* in one way or another, but it’s unclear what exactly is happening.
Joseph Cross as Bruce in AFFECTION. Photo courtesy of Brainstorm Media.
While this is BT Meza’s debut on writing and directing, the amount of restraint and care to not give away too much or be on the nose with anything in the film is admirable. When so many movies today try to spoon feed audiences, it’s refreshing to see a movie that keeps the audiences guessing, only revealing what is happening — *to an extent* — when the story has to be revealed to have a payoff, never before, and never something that could possibly be guessed. Similarly, having a movie that hinges on a tight-knit cast of just three actors executing perfectly to create the tense, disturbing atmosphere that helps Affection succeed in its creepiness and discomfort, is a testament to Meza’s direction.
Joseph Cross (Licorice Pizza) plays the seemingly caring yet deeply unsettling husband, keeping the audience unsettled on his motives or intent. However, Julianna Layne (Kinda Pregnant), 9-years-old, captures innocence, fear, and confusion perfectly, helping the audience get lost in trying to figure out what exactly is occurring. But it is Rothe who is the complete tour de force who goes through the entire scale of emotions, nailing every single one of them, and, in the third act, gives a character shift (no spoilers) that furthers the true madness and excellence that is riddled throughout the film.
Jessica Rothe as Ellie in AFFECTION. Photo courtesy of Brainstorm Media.
Overall, Affection is a strong debut for BT Meza with three powerhouse performances that help elevate the movie to something that will be talked about for years to come. Everyone brings their A-game to the forefront and the constant layering of what is happening throughout the movie allow this to stand out amid the crowd of truly unpredictable horror movies. The sheer passion in the story, driven by character motivations that range from love to safety to preservation and the alike, is what makes Affection stand out and truly become the powerhouse it ends up being.
Screened during The Overlook Film Festival 2026.
In select theaters May 8th, 2026.
For more information, head either to the official Affection The Overlook Film Festival webpage or Blue Finch Films Releasing webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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