Bridgend

This is a social drama, not a horror movie, in the true sense of the word. I am getting a bit tired of movies in the horror section, that really aren't horror. Wasted too many hours watching some truely aweful pschodramas. Having said that, it is a real shame they chose to slot this into the horror catagory, as it is actually not a bad film, if a little muddled in places and has a relevant story to tell.. The basic premis, a cop arrives in a town that has had a spate of ongoing male teenage suicides. Almost 80 in 5 years, that works out to just over one every 3 weeks. An alarming numer, particularly as it is based on historical fact, if more than a little exaggerated.

The films main problem from my perspective, is that it is a journey with no destination. Nothing is really explained, there are hints of some kind of cult, or supernatural influence, but it never goes beyond hinting. The final scene is beautifully cinegraphic, but as a whole the movie would have earned another 2 stars if it hadn't of mascaraded as a Horror film.

Such an intense movie with so much hard, darkness and yet it's beautiful in a way that is hard to describe. This movie got under my skin. It is highly recommended.

If you live in the back of beyond, where all your parents and grandparents knew each other how do you escape? What is there to live for when there are no jobs or future to look forward to? How do you portray this scenario in a film? Welcome to Bridgend. A dark and melancholic film that does just that. Everything is dark, the scenery, soundtrack and outlook give no hope. The teenagers are falling by the wayside, one by one and still no one has any answers. You feel their angst and inevitable demise but it all seems natural. The sign of a good film in my eyes and ears. Not for everyone, a bleak tale if ever there was one but well portrayed non the less.

This is one of those movies that you quite enjoy watching because the acting is good and you want to find out what's going on vis a vis the compelling and suicide-packed plot. Sadly you never do. It becomes increasingly ludicrous without respite. Shame. I thought it was going somewhere...

Bridgend attempts to explore a deeply unsettling real-life tragedy, but despite its eerie atmosphere and strong cinematography, the film struggles to deliver a coherent or impactful narrative. The misty, bleak landscapes perfectly set the tone, and there's an undeniable sense of dread throughout. However, the storytelling feels vague and frustratingly elusive, failing to provide meaningful insight into the tragic events it depicts.

Hannah Murray delivers a committed performance, bringing raw emotion to her role, but the film's repetitive nature and lack of depth make it a difficult watch. Instead of diving into the psychological and societal factors behind the story, it leans too much on mood and abstraction, leaving the audience disconnected rather than immersed.

While the film deserves credit for its ambition and visual aesthetic, it ultimately falls short of being a gripping or thought-provoking experience.