REVIEW: Greta is a torrid, trashy tale of an obsessed older woman stalking a clueless younger woman

Greta is a torrid trashy tale of a naive waitress who lands in NYC from out of town, and rapidly becomes needy, nutty Greta’s latest fixation. One for the so-bad-it’s-good fans, writes Leigh Paatsch.

Chloe Grace Moretz in a scene from the movie Greta. Universal Pictures.

Mmmm. There’s something about the way this odd duck of a thriller waddles all over the shop that keeps it watchable. If only in a guilty-pleasure, did-that-really-just-happen? kind of way.

Many of the mixed signals transmitted by Greta emanate from the mismatched combo of an elite actor slumming it (French legend Isabelle Huppert in a rare English-speaking role) and an erratic actor out of her depth (Chloe Grace Moretz, of Carrie and Kick-Ass fame).

READ MORE FILM REVIEWS:

A DOG’S WAY HOME, STRAIGHT TO DOG LOVERS’ HEARTS

FLYING THE NEST A CARTOON STRICTLY FOR THE BIRDS

THE MOST NERVE-SHREDDING THRILLER YOU’LL SEE THIS YEAR

Isabelle Huppert stars as Greta and Chloë Grace Moretz as Frances in Greta. Picture: Jonathan Hession / Focus Features

Huppert has the title role, an unhinged Frenchwoman living in New York City and stalking young women who remind her of her daughter back in Paris.

Though Greta looks perfectly pleasant to the naked eye, the slightest scratch to her surface stoicism unleashes wave after wave of deep unpleasantness.

Get on her wrong side, and she will make a right mess of you: sneaking into apartments, slipping things into drinks, and in one bizarre instance chronicled here, sticking a big wad of chewing gum in someone’s hair.

Chloe Grace Moretz is an American actor and model. Picture: Universal Pictures

As for Moretz, she plays Frances, a naive waitress who has just landed in NYC from out of town, and is rapidly becoming Greta’s latest fixation.

Frances was kind enough to retrieve and return a handbag of Greta’s that she found left behind on a subway train. At first, Frances is flattered by Greta’s many shows of gratitude.

And then? Well, let’s just say Greta is not the kind of serial harasser who can be bothered covering her tracks.

As for Frances, well, she is not the brightest light bulb in the box, making every mistake in the book when it comes to the deranged threat posed by her kooky older admirer.

Chloe Grace Moretz’s breakthrough came in 2010. Picture: Universal Pictures

Due to the presence of a prestige name like Huppert at the top of the credits, Greta may dupe some viewers into thinking they are in for the kind of artfully intense fare its star is known for in France.

Be warned right now this is not the case at all.

Greta’s needy nuttiness manifests itself in ways you’ll never quite believe, but Huppert’s trashy gusto will draw plenty of hearty laughs and good-natured groans.

Chloe Grace Moretz in a scene from the movie Greta. Picture: Universal Pictures

GRETA (MA15+)

Rating: Two and a half stars (2.5 out of 5)

Director: Neil Jordan (The Crying Game)

Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Chloe Grace Moretz, Maika Monroe, Stephen Rea.

Look who’s stalking