The Psycho-Stalker Flick "Greta" Is Creepy Good Fun

   "Greta" tells the story of a young woman named Frances (Chloë Grace Moretz) who has recently moved to New York City with her best friend (Maika Monroe). When she finds an abandoned bag on the subway, Frances decides to do the right thing and return it to its rightful owner. That owner happens to be Greta (Isabelle Huppert), a lonely widow who leaves bags around he city for people to find, and who's harboring a dark and deadly agenda towards her latest victim, Frances. It's a creepy, wonderfully-shot film that just doesn't stick the landing, mainly because it's predictable to boot.
    
   Predictability in a movie isn't always bad, contrary to what many might think. Sometimes the greatest thrills come from the anticipation we brew while waiting for events to unfold, events we see coming from a mile away. In a lot of ways, "Greta" was like that for me. The plot was fairly paint-by-numbers, and at every turn my wife and I were able to call what was going to happen right before it actually happened; however, that didn't stop her from clenching my hand or me from shifting uncomfortably in my seat during those tense moments. The lackluster plot is supported by two really great performances from Moretz and Huppert. Chloë Grace Moretz does a phenomenal job at portraying the wide-eyed newcomer Frances, an uninitiated member of New York who has yet to realize or acknowledge the vicious hustle and bustle of a city that would eat you up if you weren't careful. This plays right into Greta's hand, for the old lady thrives like a leech to the face when it comes to those unexpected victims who find her bags and fail to assume anything sinister about them. Hubbert is incredibly creepy, and she does an excellent job of playing this needy, lonely woman. At times her performance seems a bit over the top, but in a way that fits the character.
 
   At the end of the day, "Greta" was fun despite being somewhat meh. Outside of the acting and beautiful cinematography, there wasn't much to hold it all together. The writing was bland at times, the narrative predictable, and the execution of the plot somewhat lacking. Still, that all being said, I enjoyed the ride while it lasted. As the credits rolled, I felt I had been sufficiently entertained. If you're looking for a quick release, for something creepy to chew on that is also fun despite being predictable, then this is the one for you.