Review: Exhibit A

http://www.vimeo.com/6681213

Writer/Director
Dom Rotheroe

Starring
Bradley Cole, Angela Forrest, Brittany Ashworth, Oliver Lee, Jason Allen

While the concept of a film being based on ‘found’ footage of shocking events has been part of our cinematic language for many years now, few have worked as effectively as Exhibit A.

The film revolves around the audience watching footage from a young girl’s camcorder which has been recovered from a murder scene, the specific details of which are not revealed until the final moments.

It should be noted that the above is not a spoiler as, in a well thought out move, Writer/Director Dom Rotheroe clues the audience in with a title card during the film’s opening. We become part viewer and part analyst, looking at scenes of seemingly domestic bliss with clinical eyes, trying to find the clues which we know will lead to murder. Rotheroe throws in plenty of red herrings, possible motivations and plot strands to keep us off balance.

Fortunately, unlike many horror and crime films, the perpetrator is a logical choice and their actions carry with them the weight of inevitability that many films avoid for the sake of a shock reveal.

The use of natural sound and light adds another layer to the film. Before you think that low budget cameras mean ineffective scenes, there is a truly nerve shattering moment with night vision that holds it’s own against many big budget films.

The performances are compelling yet natural. You believe that this is a functioning family unit which has its fair share of bickering, but nothing out of the ordinary. Bradley Cole gives an extraordinary performance as the father of the family, a practical joker who treasures relics from the classic comedians and tries to keep a brave face even when his world is falling all around him. Brittany Ashworth, who plays the daughter whose video sets the wheels of the story in motion in more ways than one, gives a complex and at times touching performance. Both of these actors anchor the film, and the final gut wrenching minutes would not be nearly as strong without their performances.

If there was any justice in the world, the scene where the family jokingly tries to fake a clip for “You’ve Been Framed” would be considered one of the best of the year.

This is a special piece of work and you should all try and seek it out immediately. A great effort from all involved.

Rob Girvan

For more information on Exhibit A please visit the official MySpace page - click

Do you have an indie film you want us to review? If so drop us an email at james@indieflicks.co.uk

W.M.D. release dates

W.M.D., one of the first films IndieFlicks reported, will soon be hitting theatre screens. The British thriller will get its cinema release on October 15th. Playing at the Shortwave cinema in Bermondsey, the lucky audience members will also be able to take part in a live debate with the director David Holroyd.

For those not able to attend the event the film is also available for download through LoveFilm. You can check out the IndieFlicks interview with David Holroyd by following the link here.

For more information on W.M.D visit the official website - click

Review: Bad Company

Director
Jason King

Writer
Jason King

Starring
Sonya Sier, Cerj Murphy, George Vaughn Williams, Catherine Olding

Bad Company kicks off with a class reunion that sees mousy Jane (Sier) rekindling her high school friendship with Lisa (Olding), only to be swiftly yanked back into her abusive relationship with overbearing David (Murphy). Sensing Jane’s unhappiness, Lisa offers her an escape route – the use of her own house while she’s travelling New Zealand. Whilst Jane at first relishes the freedom, she soon attracts unwanted attention from both her jilted boyfriend and a former school admirer. And exactly who is watching her from the attic?

Shorts director King’s debut feature starts off rooted in kitchen sink social drama, before taking a sharp turn into a housebound thriller that holds some favourable echoes of Danny Boyle’s Shallow Grave.

Sier gives a stand-out performance as the repressed Jane, whose chance to gain some independence is curtailed by the questionable actions of those around her. She’s deeply convincing, and makes for a likeable heroine. King keeps his audience guessing throughout as to the motives of his characters – even those of Jane herself – and wrings some nice moments of suspense as the film heads to its climax. Despite treading some familiar territory, the plot holds enough surprises to keep the viewer hooked – and while the denouement may seem a little rushed, it features a suitable cracked punchline to wrap up the proceedings in a satisfying manner.

Neth Knowles

For more information on Bad Company please visit the official website - click

Do you have an indie film you want us to review? If so drop us an email at james@indieflicks.co.uk

Wilby Park enters post production

IndieFlicks is pleased to learn that Wilby Park, writer and director Ian Fielding’s first feature film, has entered post production.  The thriller, starring Jessica Stanley, Claire Conroy, Laura Evelyn and Louise Houghton focuses on a group of female art students who get caught up in a web of deceit and betrayal that escalates into nightmarish extremes.

For more information on the film please visit the official blog - click

We have lift off!

IndieFlicks would like to wish congratulations to Duncan Jones and the cast and crew of Moon, which picked up the Michael Powell Award for best new British feature at the Edinburgh International Film Festival yesterday. The science fiction film starring Sam Rockwell opens in cinemas across the UK on the 17th of July.

We here at IndieFlicks are pleased to see such a brave and exhilarating science-fiction film come from these shores and can only wonder whether with Moon’s success we will start to see more sci-fi films made by British filmmakers?

Jemima on DVD

The Jemima Trilogy, a series of films directed by Uisdean Murray is now available to purchase on DVD. Starring Joy McAvoy the films (1 feature and 2 shorts) can be picked up through the official website. Click here for more information.

The Fallow Field Trailer

The Fallow Field is the debut feature from Leigh Dovey. The horror/thriller follows an amnesiac, Matt Sadler, who suffers from recurring black outs making his life hell. As disturbing memories start to come back to him he begins to retrace his steps using these memories, only to find something more disturbing than he could possibly imagine. The film stars Steve Garry, Michael Dacre, Johnny Vivash, Natalie Overs, Sarah Pemberton, Edwin Wright, Anna Ruben and Angus Kennedy and was produced by Figment Productions.

For more information on the film please visit the official website clickand Facebook group click.