Released back in October 2025 and currenty available on
Netflix, Anniversary is the disturbing tale of American society thrown into a dystopian future when a new additon the 'Taylor' Family, Elizabeth, soon to be daughter in-law to son Josh, releases a book called "The Change" a radical political mannifesto that throws life as they know it into total dissaray.
The acceptance of this book on a national scale promts a "Change" in society and a totalitarian culture emerging over a 5yr period - with alarming and horrific outcomes and consequences for the family at the heart of this story.
That's the premise - and the movie starts quite light-heartedly with the 25th Anniversary Party of Ellen & Paul Taylor, brilliantly portrayed by Diane Lane (DC's Man of Steel / Judge Dredd) & Kyle Chandler (The Rip - Blog 304 / Godzilla).
It's clear that early on, this is a tight-nit, loving & inclusive family with friends and relatives all in attendance to celebrate with the Taylors. This includes daughters Anna, Cynthia & Birdie but it's the arrival of son Josh and his new fiance Elizabeth (played by Phoebe Dynevor - Bridgerton / Snatch TV) that prompts the beginning of the end.
Ellen later recogises Liz as an ex-student of hers - almost sidelined by her radical political beliefs in class there is a visible tension between them but its the gift of Liz's book - The Change, to Ellen that really starts riling things up.
As sworn supporters of the constitution and democratic right, the void between The Taylor family & Liz becomes very clear with all but son Josh dismissing her ideas as complete ludicrousy, but as the national tide turns and the Taylor's end up being the isolated and intimidated minority, their lives and relationships crumble under the new regime and it's not until the very end of the movie that you get a real understanding of Liz's motives and how far she will go to get what she wants.
I have probably already spoilt more than I wanted too with this description, but I do stop short of describing exactly
how the family collapses.
The Parents & Daughters have their own individual storylines for how they deal with situations they are faced following the impact The Change has on all of them, but you have to feel for each and every one of them as their futures all play out.
The casting is pretty impressive ascross the board. Aside from Parents Lane & Chandler, the daughters are played by Madeline Brewer (The Handmaids Tale), Zoey Deutch (Juror #2) & Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters Reboot) and from a character perspective we get a mix of newly famous comedienne, working executive & younger 'impressionable' teen that show the many sides of impact this event has from multiple perspectives.
Then there is Josh - played by Dylan O'Brien (Maze Runner) who as a self-confessed failed science fiction writer, becomes overwhelmed and totally self indulged with the newfound wealth and power he seemingly has with Liz, having been credited as authors of the new world order - but is everything as it seems?
Anniversary is a hard-hitting realisation of what an alternative reality could easily become. Watching it, I was slowly getting the feeling this could have been billed as a prequel to The Handsmaids Tale and that becomes more evident towards the end of the movie as The Change really starts to take a hold of a so-called polite American suburbia.
I kept thinking it'll be alright in the end or, something will happen and everyone will be fine, but I can't promise you any happy endings with this one. Go in with your eyes open and watch it early enough to ensure you have time to watch something else to cheer you up afterwards!
The acting's fantastic, the storyline is harrowing and the message is thought provoking. All elemets of a really clever movie but clever doesn't necessarily mean they all lived happily ever after. If that's all you want - go to Disney+
(Images used in blog are sourced from Wikipedia, Geek Vibes Nation, Movie insider, Rotton Tomatoes)
