WFG RATING: A

Quiver Distribution presents a True Foe production. Written and directed by Kirsten Foe. Produced by Kristen Foe and Gabe Rodriguez. Cinematography by Em Michelle Gonzalez. Edited by Shayar Bhansali. 

Stars Rainey Qualley, Ryan Hansen, Olivia Sui, Julia Campbell, Rebecca De Mornay, Will Peltz, and Sarah J. Bartholomew.

An aspiring singer-songwriter learns the hard way how the business works in this powerful feature debut from stunt performer turned filmmaker Kirsten Foe.

Living in Los Angeles, Astor Grey is an aspiring singer and songwriter who performs locally while doing small acting jobs just to get by. However, a chance meeting with renowned artist Brandyn Verge may be the chance she needs. After a date that leads to a weekend together, Brandyn and Astor seem to be secure in a relationship. In addition, Brandyn offers Astor a chance to make her first record. It is then she discovers the hardships of the music industry.

When she learns that a deal with the record company has resulted in the loss of her songs’ rights, she is not happy but goes along with it. However, Brandy’s issues with an ex-wife and alcoholism shows his true colors, leading Astor not only to break things off but find herself at a crossroads. When a sober Brandyn offers Astor a change at a tour in Europe as a means for forgiveness, she reluctantly agrees and this is set to change the course of her life forever. 

From the surface, this film may look like some sort of romance film and while there are romantic moments, the film focuses more on how a relationship can affect and be affected in an industry where just because you’re a name, there is a sense of entitlement. That is, until someone will do what they can not to achieve the dream but also stand up to that entitlement and give truth to the matter. 

For those familiar with Margaret Qualley from her performance in The Substance and other films, her sister Rainey takes center stage here and proves she is just an amazing actor like her sister. Not only that, the film gives a chance to show the musical side of Rainey as she performs all of her own songs in the film. As aspiring singer-songwriter Astor, we see the trials and tribulations she endures from her relationship with rock star Brandyn, played with occasional intensity by Ryan Hansen, to her attempts to make it big in the business. This has the feel of A Star is Born but brings something more to the mix. 

Hansen shows off a two-sided performance in the role of Brandyn. We see his nice guy, Dr. Jekyll if you will, for the first half of the film as he not only seems to be a guy overcoming his ex thanks to Astor, but seems to want to help Astor break into the business. However, the second half is when we see his Mr. Hyde, a toxic alcoholic who becomes a misogynist and does whatever it takes to humiliate Astor for his own benefit and entitlement. The Europe tour is where things come to a head and thanks to the advice of her mother, Astor realizes she is stronger than she perceives to be. And kudos has to go to Rebecca De Mornay as Kate, Astor’s agent who can be one tough cookie. 

Off the Record is a terrific film that feels like a documentary of a rising star who overcomes so much to make it big. If Margaret Qualley got major props for The Substance last year, then this should be the film to put Rainey Qualley as a bonafide star because she is fantastic in this! 

The film will be released on Demand and Digital on May 2.