The Party's Just Beginning

Stuck in a dead-end job and unable to cope with the recent loss of her best friend, a dissolute young woman's life spirals further out of control as she engages in various self-destructive behaviors while trying to suppress her grief and recall a much happier time in her life. Though it's not quite as compelling as it could be, this is still an interesting blend of poignant drama and character study that tackles important themes like anger, loneliness, bigotry, acceptance, and serves as an excellent showcase for Gillan (set in her hometown of Inverness, Scotland) in one of her most memorable outings to date as writer, director, and lead actress, with a haunting performance that conveys various emotional stages through her eyes, facial expressions, and body language. **½

I've loved Karen Gillan ever since Doctor Who and I've followed her career since then. Her debut as a director comes off as true to herself, as if every single step was made with Karen's approval first. This film feels so determined in the story it wants to tell and absolutely commited to its characters and plot development. Karen's performance is also admirable as she turns into this reckless person who is struggling to cope with loss. I'm glad she chose to deal with heavy themes like this because it's important to make them visible for anyone out there who may feel identified with such a troubled state of mind.

It's a great first effort for her and hopefully she will continue down this path of making small but highly compelling indie films. If her future endeavours are also set in her native Scotland, it will certainly add a much more absorbing atmosphere, since she really succeeded in capturing a strong sense of Scotland's environment. It's what she knows, so if she embraces her roots she could even make Scotland as if it was another character, much like Woody Allen did with New York or Jean-Luc Godard did with Paris. By all means, Karen, be my guest and keep doing your thing, I'm excited for more.

This movie is not for everyone. It is about those of us who are outsiders that often feel so dead on the inside we give up on life or seek self destructive behavior to feel alive or human, whether that be through drugs, sex, abusive relationships, risking one's life, intentional infliction of pain, or whatever else makes us feel alive for a moment, or a combination of all of the above, and the devastation it can leave behind. As someone that deals with depression and addiction to self-destructive behavioral patterns, I can tell you this movie was dead on in capturing what it truly feels like, and the impact it has on us and those around us.

For those that don't have such feelings, or know people plagued with them, I am not sure if they will get it. For those of us that do, it is hard not to view this movie as a masterpiece. It was not judgmental, overacted, or built on false assumptions. Rather, it was a brilliant showing of understanding and awareness for those of us that do not often feel understood or valued.

You will not feel good or happy leaving this movie. In fact, it was so realistic and on point it brought me straight to my dark place. However, for a change, I did not feel alone in my blackness, but felt like I was with friends that understood and wanted me to make better choices in life. For that I am grateful this important movie was made.

Absolutely exceptional. And again, I thank all of those involved for taking this so seriously.

I have no idea why IMDB has this movie listed as a comedy. It is a dark movie about depression, emptiness and suicide.

Very good for a first time effort and was nice to see bits of home on screen (that walk home would be mental though). It's a bit scattered and Karen may have over reached a bit as there are a few too many different issues thrown in BUT shows promise for the future.

24 year old Liusaidh (Karen Gillan) lives an aimless life in Inverness. She works at the cheese counter in a supermarket. She gets drunk in bars, screws random strangers, and eats chips to finish the nights. She watches a guy jump off a bridge and seems uneffected. She sees a neighbor hang himself. Her best friend Alistair is struggling with his homosexuality. She encounters Dale (Lee Pace) intent on committing suicide from the same bridge.

This is Karen Gillan's theatrical directing and writing debut. The intention is interesting. In more skilled hands, the back and forth in time would be better handled. A veteran filmmaker would have some definitive physical identifiers to differentiate the two timelines. It leaves the structure of the movie a little confused. At first, I thought she may be Sixth Sensing. Otherwise, this is an effective performance of self-destruction. It's also an interesting first stab. It's not mind blowing but it shows some promise.