Kaleidoscope

Captivating and suspenseful from beginning to end. If they remade Eraserhead, Toby would get the lead. If you liked this, check out 'Dead man's shoes.'

Greetings again from the darkness. Why is it that estranged mothers always seem to show up when we are frantically trying to clean up all evidence of a murder that took place in our apartment? OK, maybe that's not really a common occurrence, but it's certainly at the heart of this Hitchcockian psychological mind-bender from writer/director Rupert Jones. His brother, the very talented and always interesting Toby Jones, stars as the quiet ex-con attempting to get his life on track.

A pre-credit opening scene has Carl (Toby Jones) borrowing an uncharacteristically flashy (and quite hideous) shirt from a helpful neighbor for his date which was arranged online. After passing out on the sofa, Carl discovers his date Abby (Sinead Matthews) dead in the bathroom and flashes back to a brief moment of violence. Both Carl and we viewers are disoriented – a sensation that sticks with us until the end credits roll.

An ominous voicemail leads to a visit from Carl's mother, played by Anne Reid. What follows are Mommy issues galore (on par with PSYCHO in this department). Mother and son have irreconcilable differences over something in the past, but she clearly understands his 'tendencies' better than he does – especially those related to women, alcohol and violence.

Director Jones has a very interesting visual style, as well as a unique approach to story-telling. He expects commitment and attention from viewers, and rewards those who play along. Despite the claustrophobic feel of Carl's apartment, there are some creative camera angles to go with the imposing nighttime shots of the building's exterior.

The three main actors are all excellent. Ms. Reid is a screen veteran who has spent most of her career on British projects, and she excels as the slightly creepy, dominant figure in Carl's life. Mr. Jones and Ms. Matthews, as Carl and Abby, have one exchange that really stands out. Abby: "You're a sneaky snake" Carl: "What do you think that makes you?" Abby: "Nasty" It's such a raw moment, and a turning point (along with the voicemail) in their evening. Much of our effort goes into slowly assembling the pieces and clues that are doled out along the way, and it takes a sharp eye to catch some of them … while we are challenged by others to determine if they are dreams, or actual memories. A kaleidoscope changes color, shape and perception as it's twisted – just like this movie. It's a fun ride if you enjoy the twists and turns of determining which parts of a nightmare are reality and which parts are something else.

Toby Jones plays Carl, an ex-convict who meets a woman online around the same time as his mother visits. The story is told out of episodic order, and includes brief flashbacks to memories of Carl's father and how he came by the titular kaleidoscope. There are some inspired shots, comparing a monolithic tower block and a three-sided staircase to the view through the toy. There are a few short scenes away from Carl's flat. There are almost incidental mentions of Carl's plan to have his own gardening business that add nothing to the plot, maybe even distract from it. There is a shabby ending, which destroys any tension or suspense the story had. Wonderful to look at but as hollow and unfilling as a chocolate egg.

The plot might be considered confusing, although I understood it, felt very empty in alot of ways. Now the movie isn't bad and does have a subtle layer to it but it just never gets going. Some of the imagery is great and it's not shot badly at all. I think characters work on a more believable level. What I think doesn't work about the movie is that it's not really a horror or a thriller. It has potential to grip you but it fails to do so. It takes time to set every thing up but then never has the pay off. Some critics will say its underrated because its quirky ideas to story telling. To wider audience it will never hit. I think 5/10 is fair enough score but I can see it going either way. I wouod recommend you see this film however as it does take a different approach

Tries at times to be an exercise in Pinter but fails. Too little dialogue and whilst the acting is good it's far from demanding on the actors. Overall disappointing as both actors can produce better.