Skeletons

Finally a modern film that isn't Hollywood and isn't by the numbers or tickboxes. Nobody is killed, no car chases, just two eccentrics with special powers helping people to get rid of their bad memories or skeletons in the cupboard, modern exorcists with humour instead of horror.

The two actors are perfect for these two odd and squabbling characters. Two mates that look out for each other but also argue and get on each others nerves sometimes.

It's perfectly watchable and enjoyable at all levels, though normally I can't stand that wailing type music which is overused in a lot of films and irrelevant it seems to me. Whereas the Eastern European music was a perfect fit.

The only shortcoming I would say is that not enough is explained in the beginning about what they do or the retro equipment they use. Not everybody knows a lot about cleaning bad spirits and older traditional viewers will be a bit lost. The "boss" is kind of shoe-horned into the plot - again without much explanation or background context. We just have to fill in the gaps ourselves.

Also the pairing at the end is not a very likely outcome though it is a logical conclusion to the previous events.

Whatsisname's review is right - this would make a really good TV series.

I was really surprised upon watching this film on the BBC. It was intriguing and highly worth a view. The casting was great, and considering the low budget, the filming was superb and really drew me in. The suspense really builds up in the film and so you really don't know what to expect as the film progresses. I loved the rapport between the two male leads. I think it is one of the best British films I have seen in years. It is a shame that it didn't reach a wider audience, although I guess the humour wouldn't be to everyone's taste. I'm going to recommend it to all my friends to check out. I hope the writer/director makes some more films.

I have been going through the alphabet doing a film each letter, and I came across this gem.

The characters are extremely well filled out and believable. The plot is simple but draws you, even with quiet a quirky main part with the characters jobs seem relatively ordinary and believable through out. It also shows what can be done with only cast members. The ending is a little weak, but expected and does wrap the story up nicely.

Would recommend this to pretty much everyone as a good watch. Its not action packed, but you never fell that it is dragging. Will be keeping my eye out for other films of this type.

Most films with high concept values require a Herculean level of suspension of disbelief to prevent the what-ifs becoming a ceaseless stream of yeah-rights.

Quite often, a movie concept to which a viewer is asked to subscribe turns out to be poorly conceived and badly constructed. The movie then suffers from something I like to call China Syndrome: The concept is as far fetched as a bucket of chit from China.

Skeletons, although possessed of one of the most original move concepts I've ever seen, right from the opening scene, presents its concept in such a matter of fact and unassuming manner that the viewer is instantly on board. Even if, initially, you won't have a clue what's going on you will know that whatever is happening is happening for a reason and the world will somehow be a better place because of it.

Although many strange, unexplained and downright bizarre things happen in the film there wasn't, for me, any moment or event I felt required further questioning, it all seemed so natural and even the really odd things I couldn't immediately figure out were, in the context of the concept, sure to have an obvious and easily justifiable answer.

Brilliantly cast with excellent directing and if you don't 'get' Skeletons you have to understand, it's not the film, it is most probably you. Maybe there's something blocking your ability to enjoy stuff. Perhaps you ought to call someone in ?

9/10

One word sums up this movie: wow!

What an unbelievably fantastic movie this turned out to be. I had initially expected it to be some sort of comedy, but "Skeletons" turned out to be much more than just your average comedy. Sure there are funny elements to the movie, but it also deals with a much deeper thing than to just make you laugh. It deals with ordinary people and ordinary problems, plus two very extraordinary people - Simon and Bennett.

The story told in "Skeletons" was really phenomenal. It was really a fresh breath of air to the movie business. In the movie you have these people who can literally go into people's closets and see what skeletons and baggage is stored there. Sort of like a personal and spiritual enlightenment and cleansing if you will; enter Simon and Bennett. But the story also goes one step beyond the story of Simon and Bennett's extraordinary abilities, and tell the story of a family suffering from tragic events, events that were very easy to relate to somehow.

Now Simon (played by Will Adamsdale) and Bennett (played by Andrew Buckley) are two very ordinary men with extraordinary talents. And the way that Adamsdale and Buckley play their characters is right on the money. You can relate to their characters and they really come of a vibrant characters on the screen. This really goes to prove, that you don't need huge and glamorous Hollywood names to insure a good movie. Hats off to Adamsdale and Buckley, because they did a phenomenal job in "Skeletons". Now, they weren't alone to carry the movie, Jane (played by Paprika Steen) was also a very memorable character. All the characters in the movie were actually memorable and very lovable, because they were down to earth, ordinary people just like the rest of us. And that really made the movie work so well.

And the music in the movie was quite good as well, it had a very "gypsy-like" feel to it, adding a very weird and mysterious touch to the movie. So the score for the movie was really well composed and in tune with the story of the movie.

The director, Nick Whitfield, has honestly managed to put a very unique and beautiful movie together here. And if this is what to be expected from his next movie, then I am definitely looking forward to that one as well.

If you haven't gotten yourself acquainted with "Skeletons" yet, you definitely need to get into gear, because this movie is worth checking out. It is a very memorable and beautiful movie, and you will not be disappointed with this one. Thumbs up, way, way up for "Skeletons".