I had the privilege of attending the private screenings on the eve of the series TV premiere. My good friend who was one of the kickstarter backers for the show invited me as her guest. Beforehand, I knew nothing of the series and intended to maintain this heading into the screenings for the most impartial and unbiased viewing experience possible.
Right off the bat, the opening sequence had me hooked. There was a great sense of unease and I can only interpret this as the intention of the director. This feeling was consistent throughout all 6 episodes. At times I felt that it wasn't just a drama series I was watching but in fact an experience where I needed to catch my breath due to the intensity of back to back scenes presenting an array of dramatic and powerful imagery. I wasn't prepared for any of it to be honest and this was enforced by the very unpredictable and volatile nature of the tone.
I'll stray away from spoiling anything as this is something that really needs to be enjoyed and engulfed by a viewer with patience, an open mind and one prepared for some extraordinary surreal moments that take you on a journey to actually reflect on yourself and assess choices you've made in your life.
A few particular stand outs were the photography, some unique shots that created an illusion of voyeurism and fluidity. The performances were equally on par from fresh talents I've not seen before. In fact, most of the cast were in attendance and it was strange seeing them in person after seeing what their characters go through on screen. The writing is beautiful, organic and unrestrained. Coming from an urban area of London with a mix of people from all backgrounds, I felt I recognised what I saw on screen as an honest depiction and I commend the filmmaker for this.
This series has a lot to say and I think it's one of those shows that demands repeated viewings which I intend to do (and look forward to).
A must see for those looking for a unique drama that most certainly breaks conventions and likely deceives any pre-conceptions one may have going into watch PREMature.
Hats off to a dedicated cast and crew. Wonderful work. Thank God for those moments of humour (dark though).
