Apple TV+’s Fingernails is a film that delves into the intricate and messy nature of love. With a cast featuring Jessie Buckley as Anna, Jeremy Allen White as Ryan, Riz Ahmed as Amir, and Luke Wilson as Duncan, the film introduces a novel technology at an institute run by Duncan. The technology uses people’s fingernails to determine compatibility and love potential. In this world, love is quantified, with test results ranging from 0 to 100 percent. A zero means no love, 50 percent implies that only one person in the pair is in love, and a perfect 100 percent signifies an ideal match. Anna and Ryan are the perfect couple, at least on paper, but when Anna starts working at the Love Institute and meets Amir, doubts begin to creep in.

The movie’s aesthetic and tone bear a resemblance to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In both films, technology plays a significant role in people’s lives, and the atmosphere can often feel cold and gloomy. The film raises a thought-provoking paradox: while a technology that can prove love might offer reassurance to a couple, it can also inadvertently lead to complacency in their relationship. After all, if they already know they are a perfect match, why put in extra effort?

The film’s pacing is steady throughout, lacking the dramatic highs and lows that some viewers may expect. Instead, it focuses on human emotions and small, intimate moments. Anna’s realisation of her affection for Amir at the institute’s one-year anniversary party is one example of the small details that make up the majority of the film. The movie’s unhurried pace and absence of intense moments may not be to everyone’s taste. However, for those interested in the concept of love and its complexities, Fingernails make for an intriguing watch. The film makes a genuine effort to engage the audience with its characters’ lives, featuring strong performances by the cast. Still, it falls short of providing the depth required to fully invest viewers in the characters and their stories.

All in all, Apple TV+’s Fingernails is a film that raises thought-provoking questions about love and technology. While it may not be a thrilling or fast-paced cinematic experience, it certainly provides an intriguing look at the complexities of relationships and the impact of a technology that quantifies matters of the heart. Whether it captures your interest or not depends on your fascination with the intricacies of love.