Make Up (2019 film)

Make Up is a 2019 British psychological thriller film, written and directed by Claire Oakley. It is Oakley's debut feature, set in a wintry caravan park in St Ives, Cornwall. , the film had received a 98% score on review-aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.

Plot
Ruth is dropped off to a caravan park in Cornwall, to live with her boyfriend Tom, who works at the caravan park. There she meets Shirley, the park manager and Kai, the maintenance assistant. Kai escorts Ruth to Tom's caravan and fetches Tom. Tom meets Ruth as he pleased that his girlfriend is finally in Cornwall with him. During the night Ruth hears strange noises. To which Tom says it's just a fox. The next morning Tom goes to work but wants Ruth to speak to Shirley about a job. However, Ruth decides to clean up the caravan. In doing so she sees red lipstick on the mirror. She also sees strands of long red hair in Tom's clothing. Annoyed, Ruth takes the clothes to the laundry. On the way there, she sees Tom speaking to a red head girl. Both depart without noticing Ruth watching them. Ruth follows Tom but as she turns to face him, he is nowhere to be seen. Ruth again, finds strands of red hair on the caravan.

As Ruth uses the laundry machine, she drops the tokens on the floor. While Ruth is picking up the tokens, a girl named Jade helps Ruth with the machine. Later that day, Ruth and Tom have dinner. Tom asks Ruth if she spoke to Shirley about the job. Ruth says she'll do it tomorrow. Annoyed Tom states that he told Shirley she'll be there today. Ruth snaps back and asks Tom if he knows a girl with red hair. But Tom didn't answer her question. Instead they both have a dance but Ruth remembers the lipstick on the mirror and bites Tom. Tom is a taken aback but hugs Ruth.

The next day Ruth goes to Shirley's to enquire about the job. Shirley asks Ruth about her experience in work. But Shirley also asks about Ruth's fear of the water. Due to Ruth being unable to swim. Shirley says that the sea is a great healer. She hires Ruth to work in the caravans. While walking back home, Ruth is aggressively approached by a german sheppard. Kai, restrains the dog. Ruth and Kai talk. She enquires about Tom's whereabouts to Kai. And Kai says that he's surfing. Later that day Ruth confronts Tom about where he was. Tom said that he was finishing off Kai's workload. Ruth told Tom that Shirley gave her the job which pleased Tom.

The following day Ruth is working on linean, where she meets Jade again. But she also a young girl named Kippa. Ruth and Jade get to know each other at work. They both go to back to Jade's caravan where Ruth sees various wigs. Ruth sees a long red hair wig. She asks Jade if she wears them. To which Jade says no. Jade, who also does manicures, gives Ruth new nails. While doing the manicure, Ruth is looking at Jade, unbeknownst to Jade who is fixing her nails. Later that night she tries to seduce Tom but Tom doesn't reciprocate her affections. Downhearted, Ruth decides to take off her nails.

The next day Ruth asks what his neighbours name is. Tom enquires as to why she wants to know her name. But he eventually does, her name is April. Tom tells Ruth that Jade has a bit of a reputation. To which Ruth asks him a reputation for what. But Tom doesn't say. While at work, Ruth finds a brown furry jacket. Which puts on and checks how she looks in the mirror. Ruth smiles to herself, liking the jacket. Later on that day, Ruth is waiting for Pippa to go swimming. Kippa, coaches Ruth while their in the water. However, Ruth is left alone for a few seconds. But Kippa finds her and both go back to land. Ruth goes to the public shower but hears moaning in the next shower.

Excited Ruth tells Tom about the swimming. However, Tom berates her saying that she's mad going into the sea. Especially when she can't swim. Kai enters and says that Ruth can take care of herself. Which enrages Tom even more. Tom and Kai leave but Ruth remains. She looks at Tom's workshop wall, which have nude girls on it. She looks at the pictures with avid interest.

Ruth goes to Jade's later that evening. Both are talking about Ruth's relationship with Tom. During the night, it's confirmed that Ruth and Tom have been dating for three years. Ruth asks Jade about her relationships but Jade says nothing. Ruth and Jade dance together but while doing so, both are close to each other. Ruth gets scared and leaves in a hurry. Outside she is drenched due to heavy rain. But in a empty caravan she sees the red head girl inside, who looks at Ruth. Ruth quickly goes back to Tom's. While at Tom's, she tries to get close to Tom in bed. But Tom asks her where she's been, Ruth says Jade's. Tom moves away from Ruth, while she stays awake.

The next day both Ruth and Tom become more distant with each other. Ruth sees Jade smoking from a distance but doesn't approach her. She decides to go to Shirley's and says she seen a red hair girl in the caravans. But Shirley says that the caravans have been sealed shut, so no one can be in them. This leaves Ruth frustrated.

That night Ruth wakes up to find Tom getting dressed. She asks Tom where he's going. Tom says that April, the next door neighbour, has gone missing. And there's a search party being organised. Ruth decides to help as well. She sees Jade in the search party but they don't speak. Ruth looks around the empty caravans and finds one caravan with its lights on. She decides to go in and check the caravan. While inside she hears something being thrown on the window. Ruth approaches the window and outside she sees the red head girl. Ruth tries to follow her and ends up in the public shower. She opens each shower door and finds her swimming suit still wet (from swimming with Kippa previously). There's a flashback to the shower scene where Ruth sees two women having sex. We go to the present, and Ruth finds April at the beach. Jade states that April isn't well, indicating dementia. She asks Ruth for a drink but Ruth declines and walks away. While walking, Ruth becomes upset and starts crying.

The next day Ruth is more distant with Tom. Tom sees this and asks if she regretted coming to Cornwall. But Ruth replied bluntly that she came to the park to be with him. While watching TV together, the sound of the fox makes Ruth look outside. She sees Jade's caravan but no lights on. She turns to look at Tom but Ruth is starting to feel pressure. As she is visibly upset and unhappy with Tom and her life.

The next morning Ruth goes into the sea. The waves are torrential and dangerous. However, Ruth still goes in. While nearly drowning, we see Ruth and the red head girl intertwine. Indicating that the red head girl is Ruth, via her imagination. Ruth comes out of the sea exhausted and frightened. She is comforted by Jade who helps her get dry. Jade gives Ruth her jacket but while watching Tom and Kai suddenly start fighting. The fight is broken up and Ruth asks Kai what's wrong with him. Kai replied that he told Tom the truth about her and Jade. Ruth follows Tom back to his caravan where Tom starts to pack Ruth belongings. Ruth asks Tom if he's throwing her out. Tom aggressively, says that he knows about her and Jade. Ruth decides not to challenge Tom and starts to walk away. Tom in desperation, tells Ruth he loves her but she doesn't reply. Upset, Tom storms out of his caravan but locks Ruth in. While being locked in, Ruth starts to cry, as she thinks about Jade. And scene cuts back to when Jade did her nails, we see Ruth staring at Jade intently. In the same flashback scene, Jade equally stares at Ruth with affection. It is at this point that Ruth has feelings for Jade.

With determination, Ruth breaks out of Tom's caravan and goes to Jade's. Jade is not in but Ruth picks up the spare key. She changes, and puts on the brown furry coat and red hair wig. She then proceeds to go to the beach party. When she enters the party, everyone looks at Ruth with her outfit on. At the party she sees Tom drinking heavily on the hill. Unperturbed, Ruth begins to enjoy herself and starts dancing. As she's doing so she sees Jade and decides to follow her. When she catches up to Jade, she is surprised to see Ruth in her outfit. As both Ruth and Jade look at each other intensely, Ruth takes Jade to a secluded spot. Ruth kisses Jade and Jade reciprocates. While having sex, Jade takes off Ruth's wig and Jacket as both embrace each other. The next scene, Ruth is with Jade in bed. While Jade sleeps, Ruth looks at her and smiles.

The following morning, Ruth gets up and looks at the sea with confidence. In the last scene, we see Ruth in calm waters smiling as Jade on the beach looks on.

Cast

 * Molly Windsor as Ruth
 * Joseph Quinn as Tom
 * Stefanie Martini as Jade
 * Lisa Palfrey as Shirley
 * Theo Barklem-Biggs as Kai
 * Elodie Wilton as Kippa

Release
Make Up was screened on October 4, 2019 at the London Film Festival.