Double Echo

Why the low ratings for this one? Sometimes it seems like I saw an entirely different movie. I remember watching it and thinking: "At last! And may this be where the South African film scene is heading now, after all that shallow lovey-dovey stuff and slapstick."

But it seems to have been a once-off.

Sure, it could have been more atmospheric in a few spots and the budget may not have been of a Hollywood standard, but scriptwise it caught me out a number of times and things really heated up towards the end. If there aren't too many scene changes, it remains a nifty Winelands-based neo-noir with interesting characters, great relationship shifts and tense situations. And then there's that banger of an ending!

A hidden gem that deserves more recognition.

One of those weird cases where the overall low rating doesn't reflect the individual comments.... while the latest blockbusters have a habit of jumping to ratings of 7 or 8 immediately, and then don't ever come down no matter how many new viewers add scores reflecting their actual quality. Take a bow, rented bots!

This movie was a delight. Fast-paced with great performances from very talented, underrated actors, not to mention an absorbing, twisty story well told. I would have given it an 8 as well if it hadn't been for the tinned music. With a proper score with real instruments it would have been sensational. Even the lack of it doesn't hold it back too much.

I'd definitely watch it again if it was streaming somewhere. But then there's always something special about a product that's obviously had budget constraints, but with the material rising above it. It was thrilling all the way to the end.

This one should get a Hollywood remake ASAP with a thriller expert in the director's chair and some of the elite character actors. And don't glam it up too much!

Talk about underrated!

Paul, a former policeman with more than his fair share of baggage, gets pulled into the very complicated lives of a set of people in the Cape Winelands. He's going to regret his decision to hang out there for a few days . . .

The shelter he gets for changing a wealthy-but-shady businessman's tyre is full of murky depths. More than one sexy girl is interested in him, but those passions are fraught with danger. Soon Paul and the viewer are caught up in a sunlit film noir, the first of its kind in the South African film industry if I'm not mistaken.

This one had me on the edge of my seat on a few occasions. Compared to the clichéd cinematic blockbusters of course it's more modest given the budget - but there's something real to it that the over-the-top extravaganzas can never achieve.

Liberally seasoned with tension, temptation, secrets and sleight of hand!

I have to agree with another reviewer on here. This one deserves much more attention than it received. It's not often that one gets surprised by a local offering and I suspect for some viewers it may even be a problem when it happens!

I remember watching DOUBLE ECHO and feeling like I was being treated like an adult. It's something that happens way too little nowadays, of course internationally too.

Although the characters are caught up in the events of a modern noir, not to mention a South African based one, they weren't stock figurines, the circumstances and pay-off weren't predictable and even the ending ... But no spoilers here. Suspenseful and great storytelling! And those actors were atypical and well worth watching.

I wish the local film industry would take more chances and treat us with more products that are less cookie-cutter and throw up some surprises.