In Greta, Frances (Chloe Grace Moretz) is living a nice life in New York City. Having moved from Boston to the Big Apple following her mother's death, she's determined to make ends meet and make the most of it.
She goes back and forth on the subway, between her sun-soaked apartment and her job as a waitress.
One night, Frances finds an unattended handbag and decides to return it to its owner.
The owner is a lonely, French piano teacher living in the suburbs, Greta Hideg (Isabelle Huppert). Greta places handbags all around the city in an attempt to lure in and entrap young women.
In true stalker-thriller fashion, our two main characters become involved in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Irish director Neil Jordan (known primarily for The Crying Game and Interview with the Vampire) typically creates melancholic, low-budget films with big-name performers.
His and co-writer Ray Wright's screenplay is riddled with thriller cliches and stereotypes.
After a decent first half, the second becomes campy and predictable.
Making some horrendous decisions along the way, our protagonist switches from likeable to nonsensical.
Apart from her star-making performance in Kick-Ass, Moretz has always struggled to leave a lasting impression.
Here, she is overshadowed by the magnetism of the movie's antagonist.
Huppert, known to international audiences for her Oscar-nominated turn in French thriller Elle, changes effortlessly between sweet and sinister.
Maika Munroe (The Guest, It Follows, Independence Day: Resurgence) is also a delight as Frances's confident best friend. Perhaps, Monroe should have played the lead role.
Jordan's direction and Seamus McGarvey's cinematography elevate this otherwise formulaic stalker-thriller.
Greta makes for decent Saturday night viewing, but pales in comparison to hits like Fatal Attraction and Cape Fear.
Read more: