Length: 12:36
Logline: On a birthday picnic, a man and his young mistress encounter a sinister couple intent on tormenting them.
This is one of those films that doesn't quite explain itself and leaves you with tons of unanswered questions. (Like why did I just watch that?) There must be a lot going on in this subtextually that I just haven't picked up on. Actually, it seems like we've entered this film a little late and that we've just missed something which is really significant or can help explain everything. Whatever's going on, it's the plot that causes me the most problems.
We have Anthony, played by Chris Larkin, a crabbit man, considering he has a hot young lover, Grace, played by Tuppence Middleton. They fall asleep in a field after a rather bittersweet birthday picnic and wake to find two mime artists watching them. This part I liked. I'm a fan of catapulting off into a completely new direction and to be honest, this is where it starts to get interesting. There's a bit of a stand off, the creepy mimes make the couple feel guilty about having it off and tie them up in a wood. Anthony escapes and leaves the girlfriend (as expected) to the mercy of the terrorising twosome. Then follows a sequence showing Anthony at home, trying to pretend everything is okay. This ending is the weak link in the chain and where audiences will really start to ask questions. Neither character's story is concluded in a satisfying manner and falls into the all too familiar ambiguous ending. Are the mimes a representation of Anthony's subconscious? Was it all a dream? Why the hell doesn't he call the police? Surely it can't be too hard to trace two people dressed up in theatrical costumes?
Character wise, the film is also a bit hard to grasp. Anthony doesn't have many redeeming qualities and it's hard to see why Grace is even with him. After the reveal that they are both having an affair, it is even more difficult to sympathise with them. The two mimes are sinister and clearly the antagonists so we probably shouldn't be rooting for them, but without an engaging protagonist in there, it could be prone to not connecting with audiences.
The quality of the production isn't to be sniffed at though. There is a nice cinematic look to this with high production values in all areas. The lack of a music track was a good choice and heightens the surreal and disturbing nature of the mime artists. Their performance is great, as are that of Larkin and Middleton. What little dialogue there is, is delivered with expression and believability. Shame I can't say the same thing about the plot.
Best Bit: When the two mimes look at each other and simultaneously shake their heads when told to "f**k off".
Worst Bit: That we don't find out what happens.
Final thought: As I always suspected, never trust a mime.
Read a condensed review of this film on Twitter here.
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