WFG RATING: C+

Well Go USA presents a Mediacrest/Sayaka Producciones/Senor y Senora/Wrong Men production in association with XYZ Films, Filmin, and IPR.VC. Written and directed by Nacho Vigolondo. Produced by Todd Brown, Maxime Cottray, Nacho Vigolondo, Aram Tertzakian, Nick Spicer, and Nahikari Ipina. Cinematography by Jon D. Dominguez. Edited by Carolina Martinez Urbina.

Stars Henry Golding, Beatrice Granno, Aura Garrido, Ruben Ochandiano, Nathalie Poza, Cindy Claes, and Godeliv van den Brandt.

A grieving man has a chance to reconnect with love in this interesting sci-fi drama from the director of Colossal

Nicolas and Daniela were once an ever loving couple. However, all that changed when Daniela is killed in a car crash. Since then, Nicolas has been feeling a combination of guilt and remorse. He has been feeling lonely and cannot stop thinking about her. However, when he learns of a program where a new drug is being tested on that will help with memories, Nicolas takes the chance and becomes a patient.

Nicolas must follow some prompts, based on some of his memories. When he tries the drug, he is surprised to learn he can reconnect with Daniela. As the trial goes on, Nicolas slowly begins to find himself blurring the lines of reality and fantasy. However, he doesn’t want to let Daniela go now that she is somehow back in his life. Will he be able to face reality again someday?

Nacho Vigolondo’s latest film is an interesting story that revolves around a man so heartbroken that when he’s reunited with the love of his life through a new trial drug, he tends to do whatever it takes to keep her in his life. While the film is visually enhancing at times, there is just something that is missing and at times, it feels sluggish.

Henry Golding and Beatrice Granno make the most of their roles as the mourning Nicolas and the titular Daniela. However, as the film goes on, there are a few interesting scenes that makes good use of the visuals. One is when Nicolas is with Daniela during he trial, reality sets in and we see Daniela standing there in a freeze frame while Nicolas goes about his business. The other involves Nicolas and Daniela in bed where he shows her a trick where he shows her a virtual twin so they can both enjoy her. 

However, while the visuals are quite nice in this film, it just seems like the story tends to drag on at times and feels very sluggish. By the film’s end, I was quite relieved when it was over because overall, it was a mixed bag. Good visuals, but sluggish story.

Daniela Forever is a mixed bag in which the good nearly outweighs the bad. Henry Golding and Beatrice Granno’s performances and the visuals are the pros, but the story felt a bit sluggish at times. Definitely a one-watch movie.

The film is now available on Digital.