The Messenger

I'm a huge fan of Robert Sheehan, and this is truly one of his very best moments of acting. I'm really puzzled as to why this movie has some really bad reviews - it is a hauntingly beautiful story of what might happen to someone who has been tormented by ghosts from the time they were just a young boy. I thought the cinematography was very well done, the shots of Jack speaking while walking "alone" through various vast, empty places was an interesting choice that I think paid off. The music was perfectly suited to the morose and at times painful mood of the story. And the acting... wow, just wow. Robert Sheehan was truly amazing as such a tortured, tragic soul. This is a story that will stick with me for a few days at least. Well worth the watch. I did not find it to be boring at all, in fact I was absolutely riveted. That said, it is definitely the kind of movie that you watch for the acting, rather than the action.

Jack is something of a psychic or medium who sees the dead. Or rather they seek him out to send messages to the loved ones they have left behind and did not get the chance to say goodbye to. Now the idea is far from new but the film tries to see it from Jack's perspective.

We get the back story in flashbacks and also the constant analysis of his psychiatrist. There is also his estranged sister and the attempts to reconnect. The film itself struggles to find the moments that are essential for a thriller, so has to rely instead on the story. That is where it comes unstuck in that it tends to plod and despite the inspirational landscapes, that are a recurring theme, it still remains essentially bleak.

The cinematography is excellent and the acting is all top rate. Robert Sheehan as Jack is very good as the troubled – but essentially well meaning – young man who has been branded because of his 'powers'. Tamazin Merchant is his 'worried' sister and is also fine. It is though a pretty grim watch with no denouements that will lighten the load. However, it is still a more than watchable affair for all that and it kept my attention for the duration – so can't be too bad.

The Messenger is a strange one, it may disappoint audience who want horror or thriller flick since this is exclusively a psychological drama. The entirety of the movie revolves around Jack, a psychic, as he tries to live his daily life being haunted by spirits of the dead. While the concept is not novel and the ride can be exhausting, it does present a few good perspectives on the mental agony he must go through.

There's a lot of wandering involved as Jack (Robert Sheehan) either runs away from his plague or searching for odd ways to find peace, both of which usually end up poorly. The cinematography works well to set the mood, often using dark palette almost like a cloud hovering around the main character. It gives plenty of fine landscape or urban shots, although these might get old towards latter half.

Robert Sheehan is good on the lead character, he may not warm up quickly since his depression can be discouraging. Often misunderstood, his good will doesn't always reward him with accolade, after all people hearing voices and talking randomly is utterly bizarre. His character can be sympathetic yet it's the nagging feeling that he's not all there which gives depth to his performance.

The movie cleverly portrays him as a man with supernatural gift or simply a mental trouble. Other characters such as his sister or the psychiatrist enhance the relationship even more by showcasing Jack's gradually deteriorating life. This is certainly not a movie that relies on scare or shock, it's a long psychological trudge, The problem with this set-up is the arduous atmosphere surrounding Jack. There's barely any five minutes where he's not yelling or nearly breaking down. This can get tiresome, the constant conflict can produce drama, and it does for a couple of instances, but it's also very heavy and might just deter some audience.

While the drama aspect can be peculiarly engaging at times, The Messenger's overly solemn tone might not relate well to viewer expecting more thrill or excitement.

They could have gone down the Ricky Gervais 'Ghost Town' route of clairvoyance with comedy or they could have done the 'Ghost' route of a romantic thriller. Instead they go down the route of a slow burn, melancholic, mental illness movie that is not driven by the plot. Brave, if a little misguided.

Written by someone whose chief accomplishment is Emmerdale and a TV series director.

The acting is not great. The direction is not given to cinema. Sheehan has been better in other things.

In the end this is a missed opportunity. A good idea that could have been a decent, low budget, crime drama but is let done by the tone of the movie.

Jack, played by Robert Sheehan, is a medium, of a scruffy, unkempt, variety. Jack's abilities have not made him rich or famous. Instead, Jack is marginalized by society and in an real sense, condemned by his talent. Jack leads a life of dispossession and isolation.

This film, in large part, takes place inside Jacks head. The plot builds ever so subtly and there are segues that make you question what exactly is taking place. The question of who and what Jack is, is as much a mystery as the unfolding story of a murdered journalist. Is Jack in fact in possession of supernatural abilities that let him talk to the murdered reporter or is he, more plausibly, mentally ill?