Surge

If you've ever watched someone close have a severe mental breakdown then this might hit a few nerves. This was not overacted it was real and raw. This is happening all over the world and people need to realise it can happen to them or someone close to them. Whoever said this was overacted clearly hasn't witnessed this type of breakdown first hand in their lifetime. I hope they never do as it is most harrowing and terrifying for family members. The acting was first class and really showed the true reality of the lack of understanding of others. My heart goes out to those who have suffered such severe mental breakdowns and their loved ones that have witnessed them.

I love Ben Whishaw, and this is strangely reminiscent of ' Perfume: Story of a Murderer.' It's a fairly arty film, shot in a very modern way. It takes place over twenty four hours and details the slide into mental meltdown of a young airport worker, Joseph. He's a bit of a loner, has obviously had a bit of a traumatic upbringing with a strict, grumpy Father and a downtrodden Mother. His job is mundane, he has few friends and is struggling with lonliness.

His descent into mental decline is almost reminiscent of ' Joker', as it almost feels as though Joseph is becoming liberated and free ad he begins to run amok in London. I really liked it, and thought Ben Whishaw was convincing and likeable. I was on his side all the way through.

What an incredibly hard film to watch. I liked it, I hated it, and as it went on I felt the cheese was slipping of my cracker!! Glad I got to the end without having a breakdown. Well done, but in an uncomfortable, that jumper I haven't worn in a year is infested with creepy crawlies, sort of way. Don't worry I've covered all the mirrors in the house, because I keep having arguments with someone who has an uncanny resembleance to me!!

Taken at face value you could mistake this movie for a Falling Down clone set in the UK, but that's a huge disservice to the excellent job Whishaw does of conveying the build up, and aftermath, of a mental breakdown. Minimal dialog and free-hand camera work make the experience immersive, and Aneil Karia's direction does a great job of keeping the audience slightly detached from the reality going on around the protagonist, just as he feels detached from the world. Highly recommended.

Ben Wishaw channels a little of his 'perfume' performance here, (see if you catch the reference), although much more unhinged of course. More madness less method. There's an anxiety which runs throughout this entire picture, exaggerated by the handheld style camera which follows Wishaw's 'Joseph' as he unravels of the course of a couple of days. I really enjoyed this wee film, it all hinges around Wishaw's performance of course and he's great.

I can understand if some folk don't like the shaky cam thing but I thought it worked really well.

I'll keep it spoiler free.

7.3/10.