The Messenger

I watched The Messenger because I saw on IMDb that it was categorized in the thriller and horror section. That was the only reason I was interested in this movie. And again the movie is categorized in the wrong section. It has absolutely nothing to do with a horror movie nor a thriller. IMDb should check movies out for themselves before categorizing them. It's very annoying. The Messenger is just a drama, and not even a good one. It's one of those movies were the story has been done before and way better. The "I see dead people" is a nice idea for a story but unless you bring something new and better then seen before it is of no point making it. The Messenger is way too slow to be entertaining and the slow violin and piano music throughout the movie doesn't help a bit. The cast is okay but also nothing that you will remember about.

Jack, played by Robert Sheehan, is a medium, of a scruffy, unkempt, variety. Jack's abilities have not made him rich or famous. Instead, Jack is marginalized by society and in an real sense, condemned by his talent. Jack leads a life of dispossession and isolation.

This film, in large part, takes place inside Jacks head. The plot builds ever so subtly and there are segues that make you question what exactly is taking place. The question of who and what Jack is, is as much a mystery as the unfolding story of a murdered journalist. Is Jack in fact in possession of supernatural abilities that let him talk to the murdered reporter or is he, more plausibly, mentally ill?

Have to say that the acting in general was good. Unfortunately, even for a drama, it was too long winded. Some dialogs were ridiculously unreal. Even someone with a twisted mind wouldn't act like that. Too much attention seeking from someone with basically a burden.

Too much drama will kill a film. Again, I have to say its a British film. Like most British films they are produced for a market. The British market. Story's where the viewer is expected to go deep is actually a Spanish or South American specialty. Or even better, Asian country's.

The story itself is good. It doesn't matter if it is a "I see Dead People" film. There are thousands of films in all genres that have something from another film, or even the first in that genre.

Its just not my thing. As far as I am concerned you should leave these kind of films to Hollywood, or other specialists in drama.

How ever, if you like British drama's, just have a look at this one. For every genre there is a market.

I just happen to be on the wrong market with The Messenger.

All you want from a very, very surprising movie. A skillfully written and acted movie, more please..............!

Main characters are fully formed, the dialogue is rich the locations well thought out.

The main characters are very human and you want more and the movie keeps giving.

Young actors are well directed giving me the feeling of a fully rounded journey.

I saw this at the Scottish film festival and was not expecting a small masterpiece.

They could have gone down the Ricky Gervais 'Ghost Town' route of clairvoyance with comedy or they could have done the 'Ghost' route of a romantic thriller. Instead they go down the route of a slow burn, melancholic, mental illness movie that is not driven by the plot. Brave, if a little misguided.

Written by someone whose chief accomplishment is Emmerdale and a TV series director.

The acting is not great. The direction is not given to cinema. Sheehan has been better in other things.

In the end this is a missed opportunity. A good idea that could have been a decent, low budget, crime drama but is let done by the tone of the movie.