What was so intriguing for me that I ended up deciding to watch this film on a whim?
It wasn't the ratings. I admit, I'm a little dependent on IMDB ratings when it comes to horror movies, or even comedy horrors. I usually draw the line at an even 5.0 rating.
It wasn't the premise. I was like "oh great. Just what we needed. A gay version of 'The Shape of Water.'"
No, what intrigued me, was the contrast between the overall rating (5.2 stars at this time) and the average ratings from those who actually took the time to leave a review (8.27 stars at the current time).
I've found that most horrors (and comedy-horrors even), have a diverse range of reviews, even when there's only a handful. But I got the feeling that maybe, this was a hidden gem worth watching, when I saw that all but one reviewer gave it at least an 8. So I gave it a go.
And I'm glad I did. It's quirky and fun, and you gotta appreciate the British humor. I love the little things. For example: take the opening scene. In any given big production film, when the fisherman got boinked on the head by the bottle, they would have had a foley artist throw in some exaggerated sound effect. But this film keeps it real. There's barely a sound, which in some way amplifies the comedy.
And as an American, I gotta say, hats off to the English, their slang, multiple levels of dialects, and quick witted insults will forever be the epitome of entertainment for me. There are also some interesting and extremely subtle jokes hidden in the dialogue. Lines that make you go "wait....what? Did he just say what I fought 'e said?" (I'm trying to write it out with a cockney accent). And there are so many wonderfully random moments. Like, why do things seemingly fly out of nowhere to hit the characters? It's so Monty Python-esque.
Getting to the premise, the movie's about a rather pathetic and yet sympathetic simpleton named Terry, who is depressed and wishes for a better life. He makes the discovery of a lifetime, and things get weird and silly right quick. It loses itself from time to time, the original charm seemingly forgotten in favor of furthering the plot. But it's weird enough, and quirky enough, to remain interesting.
I wouldn't consider it comedy-horror, let alone horror. It's mostly just weird, comical, and a bit sad. Oh and weird. Did I mention weird? Because it's weird. But, strangely enough, it's charming and funny at the same time. Take the "human toast" monologue for example. It's ridiculous. But touching. In a strange way. It could have been a lot more though. And it lost itself too often. Still an enjoyable flick for something different.
