Sweetness is a 2025 Canadian thriller film written and directed by Vancouver-born filmmaker Emma Higgins. The film stars Kate Hallett as Rylee Hill, a teenage girl who idolizes rock star Payton Adler, played by Herman Tømmeraas. While attending one of Payton Adler’s concerts with her friend Sidney (Aya Furukawa), Rylee has an unexpected encounter with her hero, which quickly turns into a night she will never forget.
As the story unfolds, Rylee begins to witness her idol spiralling down a path that feels all too familiar: addiction. What starts as admiration slowly transforms into obsession when she realizes Payton is not the role model she imagined, but a deeply troubled and dysfunctional drug addict. Determined to save him from his inner demons, Rylee’s need to help blurs into something far more dangerous.
Higgins skillfully sets the stage for this uneasy meeting between fan and celebrity, weaving a dark undercurrent throughout Sweetness. The film carries a lingering bitterness that will resonate with anyone who has ever met their idol, only to discover they weren’t what they seemed. One of the most compelling elements is watching Rylee’s transformation, from a devoted fan with walls plastered in Payton Adler posters to someone pulled into a far more unsettling emotional space. Sweetness offers a chilling look into the mind of a young fan and explores how good intentions can twist into something unsettling when obsession takes hold.
Herman Tømmeraas delivers a standout performance as fictional rock icon Payton Adler, fully embracing the darker, messier side of celebrity culture. His portrayal exposes how fame reduces people to products, consumed and discarded by the public. While additional scenes exploring deeper conversations between the celebrity and the fan about life, pressure, and personal costs of stardom, it’s understandable why the film chooses restraint in this area, allowing innuendo to do much of the work.
Sweetness is visually striking, with thoughtfully composed shots and supported by an equally impressive score. Together, they create a strong emotional backdrop that draws the audience into the lives of its characters and encourages genuine investment in their fates. Aya Furukawa shines as Sidney, while Steven Ogg brings surprising warmth to the role of tour manager John. Ogg, often cast as deeply unlikable figures, is somewhat underused here, which feels like a missed opportunity, especially since this may be one of the most approachable and human characters in his body of work.
Although the situations depicted in Sweetness aren’t entirely new, the film approaches familiar themes from a fresh and unsettling angle. Strong direction, compelling performances, sharp writing, evocative music, and carefully crafted sets all come together to give the film its distinct identity. What’s notably left open is a clear discussion of the moral implications behind the characters’ choices, but perhaps that’s intentional. Sweetness ultimately leaves those questions to the audience, quietly asking: What would you do if you were in the same situation?
SWEETNESS – On Digital & Demand Friday, February 13 th
