Sweetness is a pop-fueled thriller exploring the dark side of devotion – a love letter to music and a cautionary tale about idols we put on pedestals.
Sweetness is one of those movies that hooked me from the very start, kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through, and left me with my jaw on the floor by the end. As someone who lives and breathes music – someone who spends half their life at concerts and feels that deep, almost cellular connection to an artist’s lyrics – this movie felt like a fever dream. It’s a neon-soaked, 2000s-nostalgia-trip that starts with a relatable crush and descends into a psychological nightmare.
The immediate comparison that jumped to my mind was the Stephen King classic Misery. However, where Kathy Bates’ Annie Wilkes felt like a shadow in a remote cabin, Kate Hallett’s Rylee feels like someone you’d pass in the merch line at a stadium tour.
The film centers on Rylee, a devoted superfan who discovers her rock-star idol, Payton, played by Herman Tømmeraas, is spiraling into the dark abyss of addiction. Her solution? To “save” him. Whether he wants the help or not.
The tension and suspense are what truly make this film work. From start to finish, I was on the edge of my seat. Just when you think the situation has reached its peak intensity, Director Emma Higgins turns the dial. It gets crazier and crazier, layering the suspense until you’re practically holding your breath.
The chemistry between the two leads is electric. Kate Hallett is absolutely incredible as Rylee. What makes her performance so terrifying is how relatable she is at the beginning. We’ve all been that fan – the one who feels like the artist is speaking directly to us. But as the runtime progresses, you watch the light in her eyes shift from admiration to something far more unhinged.
Opposite her, Herman Tømmeraas is captivating. He brings a perfect blend of vulnerability and heartthrob appeal that makes his predicament feel absolutely devastating. And can we talk about his voice? “Off the charts” is a pun I’ll happily lean into because the man has serious pipes.
Getting to see him actually perform adds a layer of authenticity to the idol persona that makes you root for his recovery, even as Rylee’s rehab methods become increasingly questionable. I found myself feeling more and more for him as the layers of his character were peeled back, which only made the suspense of his captivity more unbearable.
The supporting cast – including heavy hitters like Steven Ogg and Amanda Brugel – fleshes out a world that feels lived-in and gritty despite the pop-overlay. The film carries a distinct 2000s nostalgic edge, fueled by a soundtrack that I’ll be streaming on repeat (though perhaps with a bit more caution now).
But it’s the ending that really left me floored. I thought I knew where the story was heading, but the film is packed with so many shocking twists and turns that I was left completely stunned when the credits rolled. It is a bold, unapologetic conclusion to a story that asks a very uncomfortable question: in an age of parasocial relationships, where is the line?
I would never do what Rylee did, but the film made me look around and wonder… who out there would? Sweetness is a masterful exploration of the dark side of devotion. It’s a modern, pop-fueled thriller that manages to be both a love letter to music and a cautionary tale about the people we put on pedestals.
If you want a film that will keep you guessing and leave you buzzing with nervous energy, this is it.
About Sweetness
When a chance encounter with her rockstar crush leads 16-year-old Rylee to discover that he’s addicted to drugs, she takes it upon herself to help him, ultimately forcing her teenage fantasies into reality.
Sweetness is available to purchase or rent for home viewing now.
