"The Assessment" Trailer: Alicia Vikander Puts a Couple Through an Uncomfortable Evaluation in This Dystopian Psychological Thriller with Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel
In a future where having children is a privilege, one couple must prove their worth under the watchful—and unnervingly intrusive—eye of a state-appointed assessor.
Picture this crazy scenario: a seemingly normal woman knocks on your door. She bears a striking resemblance to Oscar winner Alicia Vikander. Your first thought would likely be, "Oh, what great fortune has befallen me to have someone this elegant knocking on my door like this. Please, come in, stranger."
Well, don’t get too comfortable. Because this unannounced guest isn’t just any visitor—she holds the power to shape your future. She's here to "assess" you, assess every part of your life—and she takes her job extremely seriously, to the point of being downright creepy about it.
Now, that should give you a better idea of what this new twisty dystopian thriller is about. Or, you can just check out this newly-released trailer.
The Assessment, starring Elizabeth Olsen (MCU's Scarlet Witch) and Himesh Patel (Station Eleven) as a couple looking into starting a family together, with Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) as the couple's assigned "assessor," takes place in a not-so-distant dystopian future where resources are not only limited but tightly controlled by a governing body. Even the act of having a child is only reserved for couples deemed worthy of such a development, as they take on the important role of advancing the human race.
But what exactly does the assessment process entail for a couple hoping to start a family? Well, from the looks of it, it's an excruciating and embarrassing procedure where the "assessor" (Vikander's character) not only moves into the couple's home but also acts as a strict examiner scrutinizing every intimate moment between them—yes, even in the bedroom.
But perhaps the strangest part of the assessment is the final stage. Here, the couple must prove they would make suitable parents. The assessor then begins to act out as if she were their own hypothetical child. So, just imagine Alicia Vikander acting like a little rugrat, screaming and shouting like a petulant brat. Well, it’s enough to drive anyone a little crazy. And it seems Elizabeth Olsen's character is feeling increasingly loopy and out of sorts during the whole process, even getting jealous of her partner (Himesh Patel) who seems to be handling it all a little too well—perhaps even enjoying the attention he gets from Vikander's juvenile alter-ego.
Co-starring Charlotte Ritchie (Call the Midwife), Nicholas Pinnock (For Life), and Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), The Assessment is written by Nell Garfath Cox & Dave Thomas, and John Donnelly.
Acclaimed French visual artist and music video director Fleur Fortuné makes her feature directorial debut with this upcoming psychological dystopian thriller.
Known for her dreamlike aesthetic and signature blend of surreal imagery with atmospheric visuals, Fleur Fortuné—sometimes collaborating with creative partner Manu Cossu under the name “Fleur & Manu”—first made her mark directing music videos for top artists like M83, Tricky, Skrillex, Drake, Pharrell Williams, and Travis Scott.
Here are a few standout examples of Fleur’s music video work—watch below:
The Assessment will be hitting theaters March 21st, followed by a VOD release on April 8th.
Here's the film's official synopsis:
In a not-so-distant future, where resources are scarce and tightly controlled, even the dream of having a child is not a given. Mia (Elizabeth Olsen) and Aaryan (Himesh Patel) are one of the few couples allowed to take a mysterious assessment for the right to have a child, having successfully navigated a brutal selection process. Desperate to prove themselves eligible, they face their evaluator, Virginia (Alicia Vikander) —cold, unpredictable, and impossible to read. Subjected to seven grueling days of challenges, Mia and Aaryan are pushed to the brink. The trials unravel into a psychological nightmare, forcing them to face their deepest insecurities, shaking the foundations of their relationship and what being parents really means to them.