Medusa Deluxe

I randomly booked into see this film, knowing basically nothing about it apart from the two word synopsis "murder, hairdressing". Sign me up! It's got to be one of the most entertaining cinema experiences I've had in the last year.

Set backstage in a run-down events centre outside Preston bus-station, every character feels alive (a little stage-y perhaps). It's pretty funny, although it makes you wait for the darkest-of-dark humour to develop. The film is presented as a Children of Men-style real-time single shot and the camera's always following someone down a rabbit hole - it feels like there's always a lot more plot going on than perhaps there actually is. The whodunnit is not the most compelling thing about the film - it really nails it's atmosphere, characters, costumes and hair (naturally!)

It's beautifully filmed, soundtrack is great too - see it on the biggest screen you can find.

Set amongst the cut-throat world of a regional hairdressing contest, this rather thinly spread drama follows the antics of some would-be competitors who gather for their annual jamboree only to find that one of their number has been killed. Scalped, to be precise. As the story develops, we see that there are no shortage of suspects from the great and the good as the scene-stealing "Cleve" (Clare Perkins), "Divine" (Kayla Meikle) and "Kendra" (Harriet Webb) spat, squabble and spar like the best of them. They are all stuck waiting for the police to question them so tensions are only going to increase as they gossip, conspire and also demonstrate some considerably imaginative skills with their hairdos before: enter the partner of the victim. "Angel". At last some semblance of acting from the usually handsome but wooden Luke Pasqualino. Loads of stereotypes, yes, but he actually turns in quite an engaging performance as the camp-as-Christmas, distraught, mincer. Unfortunately, though, this is really just a one act play that has been overstretched into one hundred minutes of screen time, and though it most certainly has it's moments, there are too many extended tracking shots as the camera follows someone, somewhere, around their complex that seemed bigger than the Royal Albert Hall. There's simply too much padding around a story that could have done a little more to develop the personalities more. It is underpinned by some effective black humour - and some of that delivers well and caustically (especially from Perkins) but there's too much of a paucity of that to stop this from feeling rather longer than it is. It looks every a inch a television play, and as such does it's job fine - but I wouldn't say you need to buy a ticket to watch it.

The one-take movie is a fun concept. But the fact still remains that if the script isn't good, the concept isn't going to cover up that fact. This was actually the first one-take film I've seen that I haven't enjoyed. All the other ones have had a great script to back up the concept. On this occasion though I wonder if they were using it to mask the weakness of what they had to work with, rather than doing it for purely artistic reasons.

The first thing a film has to do is make you care, and this one never did. I never found a character I could relate to or even enjoy their presence on screen. And I was never given a reason to care about the murder-mystery. We never meet the person who is murdered or even see them murdered. We are just told and then expected to spend 90 minutes desperately wondering whodunnit. That's not possible to do.

A one-take whodunnit should have been an absolute dream film for me to enjoy, but if the execution isn't there then it doesn't matter. This one was sadly a big misfire for me. 3/10.

Medusa Deluxe directed by Thomas Hardiman, is a captivating film that seamlessly delivers a gripping cinematic experience.

The cinematography is mesmerizing, with each frame meticulously composed to evoke a sense of both awe and unease. Camera work is really impressive - you can really appreciate the tech side to the film

The score perfectly complements the visuals, further immersing the audience into the film's world.

Casting is put together really well throughout with talent that engages you throughout the film with they're interesting personas.

Would really recommend to check this out. The film has been released nationally in the UK.

The film, with its stunning long take, makes us feel as if we are walking alongside the characters, traversing various captivating settings and hypnotic scenes. Consequently, the beginning may appear bewildering and somewhat disorienting, as we adjust to the rapid influx of information: the breathtaking scenery, the characters' magnificent hair, their dialogues, understanding what is unfolding, among other aspects. Nevertheless, after this initial phase, we are thrust into the midst of a plot that consistently prompts us to question certainties, sow seeds of doubt, and introduce minor twists and turns. The film keeps us pondering all the time: "Where is this leading us?"

This sensation can also have a bittersweet taste, as some scenes appear shallow, lacking a proper conclusion. Regrettably, the conclusion of the story ends up being predictable and monotonous, which is disappointing. Furthermore, the decision to include a scene that seems to come out of a "scriptwriting manual," outside of the continuous shot, is debatable and should not have been included. This scene alters the perception of concepts that were subverted throughout the film, rendering them inconsistent with what had been built up until that point.