Bait

... and the anger and the rage and the torment, in this exquisitely crafted modern day masterpiece whose tale mimics that of so many misplaced traditions and the voids they leave behind as they sink to the bottom of the briny. With outstanding cinematography and performances to boot - filmed in black & white, this is anything but monochrome.

'Bait (2019)' looks like a movie from the late twenties/ early thirties, with black-and-white cinematography and overdubbed dialogue. It's an odd decision, since the narrative doesn't demand this treatment in the slightest. The story is like something out of a soap opera, a small-town tale of tourism vs local business. It isn't just its abstract aesthetic that marks it as distinct; its plot is peppered with contextless scenes that could either be flashbacks or flash-forwards. This strange choice makes the movie much more confusing than it ought to be. It sort of comes across as an attempt to arbitrarily 'liven up' the flick's relatively straightforward story. Though it does transform the flick into somewhat of an enigma, it never really feels necessarily. The picture just doesn't quite come together as satisfyingly as it perhaps ought to. Its aesthetic is well-achieved, though, and its narrative is typically rather interesting. It's ultimately a fairly engaging experiment. 6/10

Bait is a pretty remarkable film. Saw it at the excellent BFI Southbank. It's set in the present day but filmed using techniques from the old silent film era - with sound - including audio - added afterwards. No moving camera. Shot as if the person being spoken to is holding said camera (think Peep Show). Beautiful black and white. It's an extension of the dogme filmmaking mantra. The director is basically sticking two fingers up at CGI and digital technology. And the result is mesmerising. However, would the drama stand up on its own two feet if it were filmed 'conventionally'? To be honest, I doubt it. But I don't think that matters.

I don't review many films on IMDB but was moved enough by BAIT to write something. The visuals are always interesting, shot in black and white it reminded me of some of the British WW2 propaganda films, especially with some of the performances that are by their nature very realistic and not showy. The performance of Edward Rowe is mesmerising as a tortured man, his livelihood threatened, his culture undermined, his sheer frustration with what life has dealt him. I really didn't know what to expect from his character with each twist and turn. I also really appreciated the non-romantic view of Cornwall, it wasn't idolised and showed the impact of the decline of traditional industry with the growth in tourism. I hope a lot of viewers won't be put off by it being in black and white as it deserves to be seen widely

This film should make a lot of people squirm. Yes, you with the prosecco.

Brilliantly shot, cut, interesting and occasionally surprising juxtapositions of scenes keep the interest in a relentless, slow burning story that could erupt into violence almost anywhere in the 89 minutes.

We had great sympathy with the Cornish characters, you feel this film, you know it is the truth. In this respect, in addition to the incredible noir, graininess it is a real triumph.