Sunday 12 January 2014

The Devil's Bargain

Social media is a wonderful thing - one minute you're watching a video of a cat, the next a friend is offering you the chance to review this film he's worked on.

Now, normally, a free viewing and we're there quicker than Richard Parker on a mouse, but this is someone I 'know' (it's Facebook, I've never met him, but he knows where I post).

Which presents something of a problem - what if it's terrible?



You see, take something like Movie43. We all know that was terrible, but one can pull that apart with gay abandon because the chances of ever bumping into Richard Gere (OK, bad choice, he's almost admitted it was a mistake) or such are minimal.

You're not likely to meet the person you've berated is my point.

But with a low-budget indie flick? Brought to the world by internet buddies? OK, deep breath...

You see, joking aside, I was genuinely afraid of this film being bad. And not just because I'm a coward.

Someone has got their stuff together, pulled together the money, cast and crew and gone and made a film. For that alone we should applaud.

And I don't want to be the one to say 'actually guys...', because no one wants to be the one who pricks someone else's balloon. Well, not unless you're Iain Duncan Smith.

Fortunately, that's not going to be a problem.

Set in 1974, on the day the world is about to end, The Devil's Bargain follows Adi (Jonnie Hurn) and Ange (Chloe Farnworth) as they return to the scene of past happiness to await armageddon.

All goes swimmingly until the sinister Luca (Dan Burman) turns up, at which point Adi and Ange's world starts to fall apart. And well before the world actually ends. If you follow.

All of this is played out with a back-drop in the form of Fintan Ryder (AJ Williams), an omnipresent DJ broadcasting for one last time - his ponderings, musings and readings providing timely insertions to the madness.

(This also brought to mind the Shooter Jennings album Black Ribbons, featuring Stephen King as a DJ broadcasting til the station is taken from under him. No, I know you haven't heard of it, but that's not my fault. You should have.)

Now, going by the poster, I was kind of expecting a horror film. And I sort of got one, but not in the modern, 'limbs flying every, people screaming' sense.

Far from it.

The Devil's Bargain has its roots firmly in the Hammer house, sparing the blood but layering the psychological tension and parallels between biblical and real life revelations.

There's also the same attitude to nudity that Hammer used to enjoy, only this doesn't feel seedy and exploitative, and is shared equally around the cast.

There are also parallels to draw with last year's Midnight Son, with the same steady pacing being used to slowly build the tension to great effect.

And that's where The Devil's Bargain is at its best, slowly revealing the dirt beneath the surface of this failing artist and his hippy bride.

As the story unfolds, you are drawn further and further in, the warm colourings and use of sunlight cushioning you from what is to come.

OK, sure, you know who Luca is when he turns up, but that just adds a certain level of glee as he persuades Ange to share his apple.

It looks visually arresting and is wonderfully styled, but all of that counts for bog all if you've got three tailor's dummies on screen.

Fortunately, in both Dan and Jonnie, writer/director Drew Cullingham has two people who perfectly encapsulate their roles.

Jonnie's trips between grief, love and anger are fluid and believable, while Dan delivers just the right amount of gleeful chaos.

Not sure he'd have been wearing that T-shirt in 1974, but given just how much Drew has got right here we'll have to trust him.

My only real issue (occasional clunky dialogue aside), sadly, is with Chloe Farnworth. While her male co-stars shine, at times she comes across as reciting lines rather than delivering a performance.

That said, however, her final scenes are excellent. (No I'm not saying what they are - you'll have to watch it).

The Devil's Bargain keeps you enthralled as you await the end of the world, with twists and revelations to keep you guessing as the biblical references whizz around your head like rotten apples.

Coming at half a Hobbit as well, it's not a film that outstays its welcome.

It'll make you think, it'll keep you in your seat, but if none of that grabs you (and it should) you can enjoy the wonderful use of sunlight.

With so much crap being flung out by Hollywood these days (don't rule out a Grown Ups 3), it's refreshing and uplifting to find an indie flick that is bold, eye-catching and so bloody enjoyable.

* Normally we'd have the trailer for this as well, but we're a family friendly place and the official trailer has flashes of naughty bits - so enjoy a video of Richard Parker drinking out of  tap instead, and then go find the trailer on YouTube...

(The Devil's Bargain will be available to watch online from Friday)

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