In My Head ★★★★☆

Review of 'In My Head' which can be found here at Daily Motion.

Length: 03:59

Written & directed by Jamie Shearing

Genre: Sci-Fi

Date: 2008

Rating: ★★★★☆

Logline: When a man's imaginary friend turns up during a quiet drink in a pub, reality begins to blur as theories on who is real and who is not starts to unravel.

This short takes a good idea and runs with it. Runs with it, unashamedly, to the ends of the universe as it happens. Playing with the theory of existentialism, we start off with Glen, played by Luke de Lacey, before the story jumps from one character to another as we follow a roundabout journey through potential realities, eventually ending back with Glen in the final world. De Lacy isn't stretched much by the role as the perpetual confusion of the character only really allows for a kind of blank expression most of the time. The other two characters who feature at both start and end is Glen's wife, Emily Lucienne, and the imaginary friend/doctor, Billy Clarke who is a little out of place with his American accent in a British pub. The accent thankfully mellows somewhat in the later doctor role. In between, there is an assortment of characters all played very well and present a variety of individuals. Interestingly, the writer also invites the audience to become a character in it's closing scene as the camera takes on our point of view and lends yet another meaning to the film.

I said that this was the same idea over and over again and once you get that idea, you know what to expect but this repetition is done well and the continuation of the same but done slightly different certainly doesn't bore. There is a firm midpoint which takes the story out of the pub location and extends the universe. This was a wise decision and good plot device which helps the story come full circle in a logical way and gives the audience something new to look at. I like films that return to the beginning but present a twist or bring new understanding to a situation and this film is a good example of that. The luminous green pint is an interesting set up that will catch your eye for a moment and is nicely payed off later on.

The music helps set the pace and tone. It fits well being played over both the 'normal' setting and the space ship locale too. There is subtle and effective use of sound effects which also add to the feel. The film also stands up due to the high quality of production in all areas. It's always good to see a well crafted spaceship set which looks convincing without being cheap and shoddy. The blending of worlds works well and provides a satisfying conclusion to the film. Of course, if I was drifting out in space, I would naturally be trying to delude myself into believing I was in a pub too. In fact, I'm thinking about it right now...

Best Bit: "You're sat by yourself, nutjob"

Worst Bit: Cheap looking opening titles.

Final thought: Why's the police supervisor sitting with a world atlas poster at his desk any ways?

Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.