Four

I probably shouldn't have watched this. I'd skimmed through some of the bad reviews but thought maybe it would still be OK. After all, I'm a sucker for a four-hander play, set in one location. Anyway, as you can guess from the title of this review, I should have heeded the message. It is a poor film. Funnily enough it seems clear that the makers have genuinely tried hard to make something good. It just isn't.

The dialogue is poor and unrealistic, the writer constantly betrays his characters, scenarios are derivative and the movie just feels too contrived. In addition, although a useful premise to start with, the ending is far too weak. Less is more might have made for a more effective film. A better writer would've done too.

This film did actually do someone things well. Limited cast films that are just set in one location are always interesting. Theres enough here to keep you watching to the end and even a kind of twist in a way. I don't like the characters not having names, despite it being easier to remember them. But looking at what happens in the film there is a reason for that. Pertween and compton do good in this. But it would be better if they were in a much better movie. The other cast members did an ok job to. Really it was an alright movie. It could have just done with being a bit longer and maybe a bit more aciton happening.

FOUR is a film that's far too low budget to work properly. The entire movie literally consists of four actors in a grungy old warehouse, with no lighting and seemingly no script given the constant, expletive-laden, and repetitive nature of the dialogue.

The best thing about this film is a monologue by guest star Sean Pertwee early on, when he talks about other, better films like RESERVOIR DOGS which was a clear inspiration. After that we get the usual guy-strapped-to-a-chair nonsense, with lots of brutality and slight veers into torture porn territory.

Sadly the direction is absolutely pedestrian, the script brings nothing new to the table, and acting from the likes of Martin Compston and Craig Conway isn't enough to tune in for. For a much better version of a similar story, check out the American B-flick SUSHI GIRL.

I must admit, when I heard that this film had been made for £100k all in, and shot on one location in 17 days straight, I lowered my expectations accordingly. I needn't have, the script is taught, the dialogue is genuinely amusing with plenty of humour and for the most part the editing is sharp; while the plot unfolds revealing a different layer with each twist... The ending delivers a great pay off too.

Pertwee brings real menace to the roll of the sinister detective and all of the characters are well observed.

The broadsheets were hard on this film, I recommend you watch it and decide for yourself. It's a low budget British film, that may be reason enough for many support it, but I want to be entertained as well, and Four delivered on that score. Hence my 8 out of 10.

Watch it. And Watch out for debut film maker John Langridge, if that's hist first effort I can't wait to see what comes next!

Possibly the best low budget film I have seen to date. The director uses the desolate location and some amazing acting talent to bring to life a clever, intricate and often funny script. The language is shocking, as is the level of violence, but this created for me an almost morbid, edge of seat fascination, wondering what would come next. The ending was unexpected and not for the faint hearted! Interestingly, it was difficult to like any of the four characters, and the audience were left knowing little more about them than we did at the start of the film. Definitely a film to watch, perhaps more than once to really appreciate the subtle inferences of the script and direction.