It should come as no surprise that Orange is the New Black alum Heder can take an improbable premise and spin it into a genre-defying tale. Thriller elements including a tense final act and overly bombastic soundtrack never overpower the dramatic impulse that leads Tallulah.

Complex character writing weaves in restrained use of flashback and continually reveals new shades of grey in the triptych of women who are all superbly cast. Getting Page and Janney together again pays off hugely – the two have great chemistry in a surrogate mother/daughter relationship that remains distinct from that of Juno.

What could have been a run-of-the-mill TV movie achieves gravitas through developed character motivations and performances given room to breathe. Even when indulging in lighter comedic dialogue, Tallulah circles profound truths.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Ellen Page, Allison Janney, Tammy Blanchard, Evan Jonigkeit, Zachary Quinto, Uzo Aduba

DIRECTOR: Sian Heder

WRITER: Sian Heder

SYNOPSIS: Desperate to be rid of her toddler, a dissatisfied Beverly Hills housewife hires a stranger to babysit and ends up getting much more than she bargained for.