Included as an extra on the DVD of Moon, this earlier short from director Duncan Jones sees British high-tech assassin Ryan (Dominic Mafham) settling down with his wife and son in Switzerland, where he continues his nefarious work using satellite computer imaging to locate his targets and long-range, laser-sighted weaponry to bump them off. When his latest hit goes awry, killing not only the intended victim but his young daughter too, Ryan develops a conscience and leaves home to speak to the dead man's wife. In doing so, he breaks protocol and compromises the security of his family and his superior. As a result, the assassin finds himself targeted by his own deadly gadgetry, his impending fate signaled by a high pitched whistle (either that or someone left a kettle on the hob).
Jones's lack of experience (this was his first time behind the camera) results in a film that is very rough around the edges, with poor storytelling and weak performances (Mafham makes for a forgettable lead) not exactly helping an already far-fetched premise. Moon was a definitely a 'giant leap' for the director, who has since gone on to direct three more features that I have yet to see. I sincerely hope they showed signs of further improvement, because his next film is an adaptation of 2000 A.D. comic strip Rogue Trooper, and I REALLY don't want him to mess that up.
