The Gist:
A thirtysomething couple (Clemence Poesy, Stephen Campbell Moore) are expecting their first child. They live in a house where the upper and lower floors have been separated into separate flats. After the old man downstairs passes away, a new couple, also expecting move in and things take a turn for the worse.
The Review:
As a film buff it’s hard not to see where David Farr has borrowed from and to good use. Bringing you back to the days of Hitchcock and especially Polanski, here lies a well-crafted chiller. Our heroes, Kate (Poesy) and Justin (Moore) are expecting their first child as well as their new neighbours in the flat beneath them.
Enter Jon (David Morrissey) and his wife Theresa (Laura Birn) who is also expecting. From the get go, there’s something creepy about the two. Theresa is overly nice and appearing quite desperate in making new friends with Kate inviting her swimming and what not while Jon is quite dull and narcissistic. Kate and Justin invite them to dinner and after slipping in a few cheeky gulps of white wine, Theresa suffers a catastrophic accident leaving the two couples at odds. They leave the country and months later Kate gives birth.
When they return, that’s when things get weird. Although on the surface all seems well, Kate’s paranoia starts to increase as things take a turn for the worse. What also makes the movie work is the believability of the characters. Each one has their own quirks and effective although contradicting personalities.
Poesy is great as the mother on the verge of a breakdown that might have some of her own dark secrets too. Moore’s Justin acts as the glue trying to keep his relationship both with his wife and the neighbours together. Birn keeps you on your toes as the overly nice and creepy Theresa. Morrissey is continuing his streak as gentleman looking, but slightly imposing, but still not matching his turn as The Walking Dead’s Governor. Farr’s experience with the stage has translated well with his long takes, hitting the right dramatic beats and a script that doesn’t go too over the top but will have viewers disagreeing.
The Verdict:
A directorial debut that hits all the right marks in suspense and creepiness. Well polished with a cracking cast, although slightly falters towards the third act.
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