The Show

Famous comic writer Alan Moore's first film feels like one of his graphic novels. He most likely wrote a comic script and gave it to a director instead of an illustrator. The pacing is more akin to a comic book than a film. With a comic you can slow down and read it at your own pace, but with a film some things fly by too quickly and things, like the dozens of similar names and faces, can be missed. This lead to the ending not hitting like most other shocking and satisfying Moore endings, but I can see how it would play better on a rewatch. The film had probably the most realistic dream sequences in film, the nightmare scenes felt like they filmed inside an actual nightmare. Love the immense detail in the production, sound, and costume design, even with the obviously smaller budget. Great performances, even from Moore himself, and great direction from Jenkins. Definitely will play better on a rewatch.

As soon as you see and hear Tom Burke at the films start, well, you just know something is not right, and that continues throughout the drama! Just what the writer and director want you to feel; so its off to a good start!

There is definitely a bit of the Rocky Horror Show's strange, but beautiful, oddness going on...but with more of Circus/Carnivàle, mixed with a little Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter lunacy, thrown (If you remember the short lived American television series, 'Carnivàle' (2003-2005) you will know exactly what I mean. Nothing is as it seems and with weirdness interspersed with weirder still, you are very much entertainingly engrossed. If not! You probably think it sucks...as its one of those presentations that is devoid of the "well it was okay" decision!

Its definitely more of a TV Film and whether you 'Love it or Hate it'...its entirely up to your good selves! :)

If this bizarre genre mash-up appeals to you, and you've watched John Waters films multiple times...then this is going to be a real treat! I wasn't familiar with any of the actors aside from Sheila Atim, who was mesmerizing in a small role, and I agree with the IGN critic who referred to Tom Burke as a bit of a low-rent Robert Pattinson, yet he and every actor were perfectly cast, alternately charming, alluring, whimsical, and eccentric. Not a moment wasted in the script; edited to perfection, but I would love to see the footage that got cut. Costumes, sets, hair and makeup were Rocky Horror Picture Show-worthy. I could see this eventually becoming a cult classic. Definitely a hidden diamond in the rough at present.

Fletcher Dennis (Tom Burke) arrives in Northampton in search for a missing artefact. He dives into this world of supernatural oddities and darkness.

The big name here is writer Alan Moore. He has filled this story with imaginative ideas, characters, and weirdness. I've never heard of director Mitch Jenkins. He may not have the budget nor the skills to pull off Moore's visions. Burke has an intriguing look but his acting skills fall short for a cinematic lead. He's more fitting as an antagonist than a protagonist. The story feels overstuffed and somehow lacking in narrative drive. It feels meandering. This movie is very intriguing but the execution falls a little short.

Surreal detective story packed with quirky characters which plays out half in dreamland and half in Northampton ( because why not Northampton?) To say this is a bit hard to follow would be an understatement but maybe that's the point; you're not supposed to understand it because most of it doesn't make any sense. It's still a very enjoyable watch, often hilarious, sometimes shocking, regularly disturbing. It could do with being 20 minutes shorter though. I'm really glad that there are still people willing to take artistic risks with film in these days of formulaic Hollywood blockbusters.