Dish

You could be forgiven for thinking that Meloni Poole's DISH is an erotic short horror film . The story starts with young woman Mo frequenting a nightclub and actress is made up to resemble the common perception of what a vampire might look like if they existed - Pale skin , dark hair , red lips and a kind of understated sublime beauty . She then meets a young man called Pete outside the club and they then depart to Mo's flat . You don't have to be much of a film expert or Gothic horror novels to conjure up what might be happening next and throughout the running time Poole hints that something nasty will be happening to Pete

As the end credits came up I was in two minds as to what Poole was trying to do with DISH . It should be said that the ending is totally unexpected and that's not a compliment I'm afraid . It could be that Poole was trying to lull the audience into thinking they were going to be watching a ten minute version of DRACULA'S DAUGHTER since the imagery of red liquid in the bath hints at it but that's not what we actually get at the end so maybe the joke is on us ?

Mo picks up Pete in a club and together they trip the night away.

Only Pete tends to pass out with all the drink and drugs, and Mo tends to flashback to a childhood birthday party when her brother (?) was killed. She's reliving that birthday party in the present, only Pete has become her brother and quite literally her cake. Will she eat him too?

This short is well crafted and keen on visual symbolism (red icing on hands = blood of slain brother, water = sexuality & life). Jodhi May and Enzo Cilenti provide the right mix of lust and wonder to their tripped out characters. While it was strange seeing Jodhi May sans BBC costume drama, it was ultimately very good. We need to see her more often in modern settings as she's one of the best actors of her generation.

On her birthday a girl, Mo, meets a man, Pete, in a club who reminds her of a childhood friend and takes him home. While the evening continues her memories are played out in the present.

This short is very short and it builds well. It intercuts Mo's actions with memories of a birthday years ago when she was a child. As things start happening in the present so Mo's past is revealed to us. However this leads you to believe that it is building to something big or shocking.

However the end is a little of a letdown. Indeed the end leaves more questions than answers and I found it a real let down when I had assumed that something more concrete was going to be known by the end. It is still worth watching as it does leave you thinking about it for some time afterwards, trying to work it out - which is quite an accomplishment for a film so short.

Overall Jodhi May is good as Mo and the film is indeed very interesting and atmospheric. The director has given it a very professional feel to it but I couldn't help but feel let down by the lack of answers.