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December Films
Silent Night
Silent Night is showing in UK cinemas from 11th December, on digital download from 18th December and DVD from 28th December. It’s a violent Christmas gangster film about a South London hitman Mark (Bradley Taylor – Surge) recently out of prison and trying to get his life straight in order to take care of his daughter. He’s doing odd jobs and living out of a van so when his old cell mate Alan (Cary Clarkson) turns up to persuade him to do one last job for some big money he finds it hard to ignore.
He also gets an invitation to come back to his old firm and duly accepts to see them – but to tell them that he’s not coming back. The firm is having problems and has had a visit from ‘head office’ about the instability of their crime racket and the family boss Caddy (Frank Harper – Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) is under pressure to get things sorted. Caddy is doing an entertaining Cockney Godfather impersonation whilst trying to finish his sticky spare ribs and give Mark his next job, which is to take out the Azziz brothers who are suspected of encroaching on their turf. So it’s perfect timing for Mark to be returning back to the firm to do one last job.
The lure of the cash to help his family is too much, especially under the heavy persuasion of the edgy Alan, he’s unable to escape his past. All the while Mark is facing the problem of keeping this quiet from his estranged partner Julia (Angela Terence – Wallander), not wanting to let her know he’s back into crime or tell her where the money is coming from to support their young daughter.
The hit is a big job and Mark needs the help of an old acquaintance in the guise of Pete (Nathaniel Martello-White – Small Axe / Mangrove) who’s had to take a step back himself from being a hitman to run a drug den at home having fluffed a hit for Caddy with Big Dick the Bouncer. Seamus (Joel Fry) is his stoner partner who is another member of the old firm and they’re all pleased to see each especially for Christmas showing a sentimental bond between them which is like an EastEnders reunion despite their line of business.
It’s a film that mostly steers away from the glamourising of crime and gangsters with a more social human focus on Mark’s deep desire to be there for his daughter whilst struggling to keep on the straight and narrow and adjust to life back on the outside. The violence is enough to be quite frightening and disturbing without being too visual and Mark’s partner in crime Alan carries this threat off successfully well as the unhinged social misfit with an aptitude for violence. Some of the situations are risible like openly discussing their activities at Wimpy’s where there is an equal sense of alarm and stilted laughter.
Overall as an alternative Christmas film whose only link with any Christmas spirit are the Christmas lights and dinner but despite the broody undertones and a lack of carol singers there is a slight line in Cockney Lock Stock swagger including an irreverent sequence of Royal family jokes for the genre fans to enjoy. Otherwise it’s a violent London gang dispute over clubs, drugs and prostitution, taking place outside of the salubrious bright lights of the West End and shinning a dark light on the lesser attractive corners of London’s urban sprawl.
Film: Silent Night
Director: Will Thorne
Stars: Bradley Taylor, Cary Crankson, and Frank Harper
Genre: Crime / Thriller
Run time: 1hr 33min
Rated: 15
Rating: 3/5
WWII – The Long Road Home
WWII – The Long Road Home (originally Charlie’s Letters) is available to watch on selected digital platforms and to buy from selected UK stores. Written, directed and starring Elliott Hasler this is an incredible biopic story about his own great-grandfather during WWII and is an amazing feet of micro budget filmmaking especially from someone so young. Elliott was sixteen years old on its completion, making him the UK’s youngest person to have a film shown on Amazon, Sky Store or iTunes.
The film tells the remarkable true story of Elliott’s great-grandfather, Charlie (played by Elliott Hasler himself), told through his letters, which he wrote to his wife ‘Tup’ (Alice Rogers) after he was sent away to war during WWII. The film re-enacts his war experiences when he was captured at the battle of Sidi Nsir in Tunisia and taken to an Italian internment camp, before escaping and crossing war torn Italy, alone, in search of safety and the ally borders. His wife, ‘Tup’, was at home and faced her own dilemmas, as she was being charmed by an overseas officer back on the Homefront, not knowing if her husband would return to her and their young son. The film is even more remarkable that it was started when Elliott was just 14 years old and was filmed on a budget of less than £3,000.
If you can excuse some of the technical imperfections, basically being shot on a DSLR camera without a full crew and with some fairly green actors, which in a way add to the film’s gritty realism. The minimal script has its poignant moments and although wooden sounding at times there is again a dogme style reality to it all as the film retraces Charlie’s steps, told through his letters and the imagination of his great-grandson.
It’s a dramatic tale of love, courage and survival that captures much of the unimaginable horrors of war told using creative visuals and sound to circumnavigate its budgetary restrictions. The locations are captured with some stunning landscape scenery giving the audience a real sense of the epic journey undertaken from Brighton to his posting and capture in Tunisia and subsequent escape across Italy. The costumes, props and extras all encapsulate the period adding to the authenticity that shows a good eye for detail and overall great cinematic potential for a young director making his mark.
As war movies go this is as entertaining and engaging as many other higher budget films despite its flaws. It’s exciting to see a gutsy film from such a young UK film director who seems to have a natural flair for true storytelling both script wise and visually. The film pays real homage to his family and hometown history as well as to the sacrifices ordinary local folk made during the war and he has even been touted as the next Spielberg.
Film: WWII – The Long Road Home
Director: Elliott Hasler
Stars: Elliott Hasler, Alice Rogers, David Aitchison
Genre: Action / Drama / War
Run time: 1hr 16min
Rated: 15
Rating: 4/5
The Glass Man
The Glass Man, originally released at Frightfest (2011) to critical acclaim is finally getting its long awaited UK release on UK digital download platforms from December 7th. It is a dark psychological tale from director Christian Solimeno (I Made This For You) that tackles the breakdown of Martin (Andy Nyman – Ghost Stories) after he loses his job and the impact it has on his relationship with wife Julie (Neve Campbell – Scream).
Directed and also featuring Christian Solimeno the story focuses on an affluent middle class businessman Martin and his beautiful wife living in their lovely home, but after he loses his job he can’t face telling her about their financial problems and gets himself deeper and deeper into trouble. He receives an unexpected call from a debt collector heavy, Pecco (James Cosmo – Braveheart), and realises he doesn’t have much choice in doing what the heavy wants to clear his debts, which is to go on a job with him that evening.
The film shows the easy disintegration of the perfect home lifestyle and the lengths people will go to in order to maintain their way of life. Inside the couple’s lovely home we see Martin getting ready for work, having breakfast with his wife, but on opening the mail there’s the first sign of the financial trouble looming and whilst wanting to show a strong exterior, the bills keep coming in. At work, the rejection from his colleagues is chilling and he is unceremoniously given his marching orders by his boss Anton (Don Warrington – Rising Damp) and it begins to look like a dark version of The Office as things start to unravel for Martin.
With a largely UK cast, both Nyman and Campbell play their roles believably well, although recognising Campbell as the horror icon she is from Scream there seems a slight mismatch here playing the doting wife to Nyman’s failing business exec. James Cosmo (Braveheart) is brilliant as the menacing London tough guy Pecco and Don Warrington plays a great cameo appearance as Martin’s incensed boss. The film looks to bring some lighter comedic moments with an air of inside gags especially from director / actor Christian Solimeno having fun with the medium’s boundaries playing Martin’s actor friend Toby, who’s having stalker problems whilst still insisting on fussing over Martin and whether he wants a cup of tea or not.
Its strength and weakness lies in its understated chilling tone in showing the psychological problems arising through financial difficulties and the effects they can have on individuals and their family, friends and work. The director, Christian, who recently released the film I Made This For You about suicide, seems to be a crusader for highlighting mental health problems through his film projects and this is another timely release that brings to light mental health issues in an understandable and entertaining way.
Film: The Glass Man
Director: Christian Solimeno
Stars: Andy Nyman, James Cosmo, Neve Campbell
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Run time: 1hr 48min
Rated: 15
Rating: 3/5
Lost at Christmas
This is Scotland’s first ever Christmas movie coming to UK cinemas from 4th December and is available on digital platforms from 7th December. It’s a quirky romcom that looks to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to our screens whilst taking in some wonderful Scottish Highland scenery.
Director Ryan Hendrick has made a feature length film of his successful short film Perfect Strangers bringing together a collection of Scottish actors in the wonderful surroundings of Fort William and Glencoe. Starring Kenny Boyle as Rob, a foppish Hugh Grant lookalike and Natalie Clark as Jen, the ditsy Christmas romantic dressed as an elf; the two are thrown together as their Christmas Eves end in heartbreak and they decide to team up to help each other get home for Christmas but things don’t go to plan.
Having “borrowed” Jen’s now ex-boyfriend’s car, they get stuck and end up having to cross the moors wearing only an elf’s outfit and lace-ups in treacherous snowy conditions, and whilst the scenery looks stunningly beautiful, it’s a relief when they find a guest house before dark, even for hardy Scots. Here they find the other guests getting away for Christmas and there are star turns from Sylvester McCoy (Dr. Who, The Hobbit), Clare Grogan (Gregory’s Girl) and Sanjeev Kohli (Still Game, Stan & Ollie) who plays the welcoming but slightly beleaguered Scottish guest house owner.
The film can’t help looking like a Highlands tourist board commercial with its smattering of product placement in tweed, tartan, whiskey and general Scottish patter, whilst the script also requires an element of acquiescing some of its eccentricities, where the sentiment is missed or the humour remains undelivered but there is plenty of Scottish wit and charm to enjoy.
It’s a delicately twee Christmas romcom and despite all the heartbreak and sorrow of seemingly everyone staying at the guest house, it is still capable of raising the spirits this Christmas time albeit in a slightly low-key manner. It doesn’t chase the happy ever after too much which is refreshing, although perhaps it falls slightly between the two stools.
Film: Lost at Christmas
Director: Ryan Hendrick
Stars: Natalie Clark, Kenny Boyle, Sylvester McCoy
Genre: Romance / Comedy
Run time: 1hr 40min
Rated: 12
Rating: 3/5
A Christmas Carol (2020)
A Christmas Carol will be coming to cinemas and select theatre venues in the UK from the 4th December and Ireland from the 11th in a masterful remake of the ultimate Christmas ghost story by Charles Dickens, but with a difference. Combining film, theatre and animation it is as ambitious as its planned opening release date.
The story begins in a Victorian sitting room with grandma and the family assembled by the fireplace readying to be entertained. We magically enter the children’s play house into the Dickensian London setting and the time-honoured story of Ebenezer Scrooge, as the mean business proprietor, who is visited by the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley and the 3 spirits of Christmas: Christmas past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come.
Behind A Christmas Carol are the exciting creative British film director siblings Jacqui Morris and David Morris (McCullin, Attacking The Devil) who have put together an extraordinary film that brings together the different mediums of film, theatre and animation to effortlessly portray a dream like world, using music and dance, where the cast are played by dancers and are voiced by an array of star studded actors that includes Martin Freeman and Carey Mulligan. This is all perfectly executed without anyone moving their lips, which somehow works incredibly well adding to the ghostly drama, most notably by thespian Simon Russell Beale as the feared and fearful Scrooge, danced by Michael Nunn (Ballet Boyz).
The script so faithfully resembles the original Dickens novella that this is like your very own celebrity audiobook put to a musical ballet. And what a script, with its contemporary visual updating, that the prose more than equally matches. It is as fresh as the day it was written, so fresh you have to check the book for verification. The musical score takes you back to the past, bringing it to life with a contemporary twist and the choreographed dialogue elevates this with its incredible psychic medium. This is all played out in a theatre set that could be a studio, but all the while sucks you in to a believable ghostly reality, as we follow Scrooge as he is transported away by each of the Christmas spirits.
Film: A Christmas Carol
Director: Jacqui Morris and David Morris
Stars: Simon Russell Beale, Martin Freeman, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Kaluuya and Andy Serkis
Genre: Drama / Animation
Run time: 1hr 36min
Rated: PG
Rating: 5/5
Audiences will be able to catch A Christmas Carol in cinemas and selected theatre venues nationwide from December 4th. Listings are available here:
https://www.achristmascarol2020.film/?country=united-kingdom
Theatres wishing to explore screening A Christmas Carol as part of their festive programming can contact Executive Producer Clare Lee Davis via clare@frithstreetfilms.com
Finding Steve McQueen
Available on digital download from 16th November Finding Steve McQueen is based on the true events of the biggest bank robbery in US history when an organised gang broke into the United California Bank in 1972 to steel an alleged $30 million from the President’s secret funds of illegal campaign contributions.
Harry Barber (Travis Fimmel) plays an average Joe factory worker, but with a penchant for stealing fast cars whilst going under the alias of Steve McQueen, named after his favourite actor and living legend at the time. He shares a similar passion for driving at high speeds and whilst the filming sequences draw comparisons with Bullitt there’s more of a Dukes of Hazard comedy element to them here.
He works at his uncle Enzo’s (William Fichtner) vending machine factory and his uncle receives a tip off about President Nixon’s questionable stash of money in a Californian bank which is too great a lure for him and so he masterminds a plan to steal it aided by his hometown mob that in real life included his brother James, brother-in-law Charles as well as his nephews Harry and his brother Tommy who is freshly back from Vietnam, making this quite the family heist.
The story is told retrospectively with Harry trying to explain exactly who he is to his girlfriend Molly (Rachael Taylor) as they sit in a cafe some 8 years after the event. The action chops back to the robbery and pieces together how they met, which brings a romantic touch to the story whilst acting as a useful narrative platform.
Detectives Howard Lambert (Forest Whitaker) and Sharon Price (Lily Rabe) are put in charge of the case and have a trail of clues to investigate, not least the massive hole blown through the roof of the bank and a pile of smashed deposit boxes. How the story unfolds has some genuinely astounding moments and the robbery is as sensational as any Ocean’s Eleven Hollywood story; one of several nostalgic movie references during the film.
In a way it plays like a strange testament to the audacity of organised gangs, their ingenuity and bravery as well as their stupidity. Overall it’s a fun heist movie based on real life events that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a sentimental look back at a crime with a weird kind of moral heart that actually started the biggest FBI manhunt ever known but if you’re waiting for Steve McQueen to show up you’ll be disappointed – although you will find a nice country and western soundtrack.
Film: Finding Steve McQueen
Run time: 1hr 31 min
Director: Mark Steven Johnson
Stars: Travis Fimmel, Rachael Taylor, William Fichtner, Forest Whitaker, Lily Rabe
Genre: Thriller / Crime
Rated: 15
Rating: 3/5
RENT-A-PAL
RENT-A-PAL will be available on Digital Download from 16th November, a disturbing psychological thriller about David (Brian Landis Folkins) a lonely bachelor caring for his ageing mother suffering from dementia (Kathleen Brady). Set in the 1990s, David is seeking a girlfriend via a video dating agency Video Rendezvous, which isn’t going well but he stubbles across Rent-A-Pal an interactive video tape where he meets Andy (Wil Wheaton) his ‘new best friend’ triggering a deterioration in his well being.
Taking care of his mom and living in her basement, David plays his Rent-A-Pal tape over and over and is totally absorbed by Andy’s charming coercive friendship but soon things get a little weird as the video interaction becomes more interactive, which starts to affect David whilst he is looking after his mother. Things actually take a turn for the better as he gets lucky at the dating agency and is introduced to a perfect match, fellow carer Lisa (Amy Rutledge), but this surprisingly causes a problem for David as he ends up in an awkward 3-way tryst.
Written, directed, produced and edited by Jon Stevenson, it’s an unnerving take on the oddball mother and son relationship, which automatically conjures comparisons of the most famous one of them all at the Bates Motel and it almost feels like a creepy horror homage to VHS (PAL) video tapes, with its intricate close ups inferring sinister inner workings of a now almost forgotten medium.
Film: RENT-A-PAL
Run time: 1hr 48 min
Director: Jon Stevenson
Stars: Wil Wheaton, Brian Landis Folkins, Kathleen Brady, Amy Rutledge
Genre: Thriller / Horror
Rated: 18
Rating: 3/5
Voodoo Apocalypse
Available on digital platforms from 9th November, Voodoo Apocalypse is a tribute to the 70s grindhouse movies, it’s packed with cheesy dialogue, cheap gags, badly choreographed fights, terrible special effects, plenty of swearing and a splattering of extreme violence, and as the strap-line says it’s got cops, kung fu, masked wrestlers and zombies!
The film uses a grainy 70s film look and has music, moustaches and wardrobes to match. It starts with the flip flop wearing cop White Chocolate (Sergio G. Ramos) sent to Mexico to track down fellow cop gone AWOL Charlie Vargas (Jose J. Ramallo) and he finds him in Mexico wrestling as a masked lucha libra wrestler.
Vargas returns to Los Angeles and under the orders of shouty boss, Lieutenant Blackman, they are to go after the drug trafficker and murderer of Vargas’ former partner, Jimmy Vanilla (Victor Hubara), and so ensues the hunt for Jimmy who turns out to be Papa Voodoo capable of turning people into zombies through playing his rock music. This of course cannot happen until Vargas and White Chocolate become kung fu masters.
If that all sounds a little hard to follow, the film doesn’t help matters with its difficult to pick up dialogue and it’s not entirely clear whether this is down to deliberately awful Spanish / Mexican accents or just plainly inaudible speech.
Written, directed and performed by a collaborative team, it feels like a film made by a group of friends out to enjoy themselves. If you’re looking for a complete escape from the usual Hollywood blockbuster then you could be interested by this B-movie tribute, but whilst the gags resemble what might go into an outrageous grindhouse style movie, overall it lacks a cohesive magic spell.
Film: Voodoo Apocalypse
Run time: 1hr 35 min
Director: Vasni Ramos
Stars: Jose J. Ramallo, Sergio G. Ramos, Jorge Galvan, Victor Hubara
Genre: Action / Comedy / Horror
Rated: 15
Rating: 2/5
Dead
A paranormal comedy now available on digital download, Dead, which featured at this year’s Frightfest is a lighthearted take on the zombie horror genre about a hapless stoner Marbles (co-writer Thomas Sainsbury) who discovers he can see dead people with the assistance of a marijuana hallucinogenic cocktail he’s developed. He is forced into a murder mystery caper when dead cop Tagg (writer, director Hayden J. Weal), wearing only boxer shorts and his uniform having lost his trousers in the pursuit of his assailant, recruits Marbles for his very own murder hunt.
The lack of extreme violence and gore for most of the movie sets this film apart from its more typical 18 rated counterparts, although it still maintains some gory detail. It focuses more on its murder mystery, on screen chemistries and humorous dialogue, and whilst it produces only a rare belly laugh, it sits easily alongside a growing trend of entertaining comedy films from New Zealand, with its down to earth appeal dealing with the bizarre and wacky, in a style reminiscent of the Simon Pegg and Nick Frost partnership in films like Shaun of the Dead.
The writers and director have mostly done a good job in making a fun watchable movie which has an overriding air of campness. The two main characters make a reluctant detective partnership set on finding the murderer and the growing bond between the macho antipodean cop and the slightly camp Marbles raises eyebrows from the beginning. This may also help keep a lid on any majorly frightening stuff happening, until the very end, when everyone seems to lose the plot with or without the hallucinogenic drugs.
Film: Dead
Run time: 1hr 30 min
Director: Hayden J. Weal
Stars: Thomas Sainsbury, Hayden J. Weal, Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Genre: Comedy / Horror
Rated: 18
Rating: 3/5
The Language of Film 