The low rating was not a good sign, and if other recent low-budget viewings were anything to go by was worried that it would be one of those that bad or worse films. But there was the concept, while a very weird one it was intriguing. So watched 'Neron' anyway as part of one of my film and television quests (often completest).
Have seen worse films as part of my recent modest at best/low budget film quest definitely, but that is saying little. 'Neron' is still a terrible film in nearly every way. It is also one of those films that doesn't intrigue at all, offers very little new. The concept was not a derivative one as such, but the execution is and is also too conventional, extremely dull and bland, often confusing and seemed resistant to take any risks.
Two points in its favour is some atmosphere in the lighting and that parts of the first third show promise in providing some unsettlement and intrigue. Both are too far and between, any atmospheric lighting is wasted by most of it being drab or too dark, a too compact setting, haphazard editing and some photography that induces nausea. Meanwhile the film goes down south very quickly and doesn't recover.
Direction is at best pedestrian and this does affect the pacing, which is sluggish throughout, and the direction of the actors. The acting is at best risible, with Eric Roberts clearly showing a complete lack of interest or engagement with his role that he sleepwalks his way through and the character interaction is very bland and sometimes random.
From start to finish, 'Neron' badly lacks tension or suspense, which immediately dilutes the atmosphere. Nothing scares and it all feels too safe, which is why there is so much predictability. Everything is easily foreseeable long before it happens and the pacing is just too dull. The script never sounds natural and the cheese factor is high and the interest factor low as can be.
The story is ruined by being paper thin, useless padding and a very dull pace. As with some recent viewings, it did feel too much like a short film stretched out to feature length with nowhere near enough content to fill it. A lot of it doesn't make sense either, far too many loose ends. The characters are never interesting, even with few attempts to which are so flimsily developed that it is difficult to care for any of them, and frustrate with the way they behave. So many stupid and illogical character behaviours here matched by the far-fetched ending.
In conclusion, a mess. 2/10 Bethany Cox
