Candlestick

I have to admit this is not my favourite genre, I'm a comedy man, but my DAUGHTER, who is all of 12 years old, loves these movies so we watched and had a great time digging into a bowl of popcorn and digging our nails into each other, this movie really delivers on the spooky suspense and takes a familiar genre and plot setting that everyone can relate to and turns it on its head...the filmmaking and particularly the SOUND is fantastic, I don't know how they got such great sound on a low budget but the sound contributes to the creepy suspense and finally drives you to the edge of your seat, without spoiling or giving away anything its highly recommended this film achieves what Hollywood films can only hope to achieve;...real people; real actors ...real suspense.

I saw this movie on a wet Sunday in a movie theater in London. The cinema was packed, not because of the weather, but to see the second movie of 'boy wonder' Chris Presswell', a twenty five year old working class boy from Enfield who has got off the dole and become one of England's brightest young directors. Is the movie good? Yes, it is surprising good and reminds me of early Soderberg. Not everyone's taste, but there is a brain at work there pushing the audience to think about the story rather than the pizza they are going to have after the show. If you are a young filmmaker then you could learn from this guy who is an obvious fan of Hitchcock, but who also has integrity. Will Hollywood come and make this kid shoot bang-bang-you're-dead stuff for them? I hope not, and anyway, Chris Presswell already has his own ideas about how to kill people on screen. A good second movie for a kid from nowhere, I can't wait to see what he'll do with some real cash to spend.

The moment this film started I should have switched off, due to the cringe-worthy acting on display. I'm surprised there wasn't a little man in a prompter's box feeding the lines to the actors, it really was that reminiscent of amateur dramatics at the village hall. I sincerely hope none of these actors will include Candlestick in his or her CV as they all deliver shocking performances, complete with 2-second pauses before the next line is due.

The premise doesn't really work either, mainly due to the fact that parts which are meant to be out of earshot of the other characters would never be out of earshot in a tiny London loft apartment like this (note to director/writer; loft apartments are ALL ONE SPACE - you can't just go upstairs and have a private conversation as the people in the living room ARE RIGHT BELOW YOU!) The behaviour of the characters is ridiculous, as is their way of talking to each other.

Written as a 30-minute TV play by people who knew what they were doing (for instance, the team behind Inside No 9), this could have worked quite well. But stretched out over 82 minutes it has little to redeem it. Even the music is so reminiscent of Psycho that it had me humming that movie's signature theme long after I forgot the misery of sitting through this pile of refuse.

As a final note, and to show how little care went into making this film, there is a tiny bit part at the end played by someone with an American accent in a role where the character would be extremely unlikely to have an American accent. It distracts the viewer from the final scene and only serves to put the final nail in the coffin of one of the worst films I've ever seen.

Candlestick by it's name alone, instantly brings to mind the game of Clue along with an old-fashioned British murder mystery and the ultimate question of "whodunnit?" Although, in this film it's more about the unfolding twists and turns than a simple classic whodunnit.

No drafty old mansions for this movie, filmed on a one set location in the style that brings to mind some of Hitchcock's oldies but goodies -- this is a contemporary murder mystery beautifully filmed in a contemporary setting.

The cast is excellent, performing in the theatrical British style required -- while the film score is outstanding!!! Writer/ Director Christopher Presswell and Co- Writer Andres Forgacs have created an extremely impressive film on an Indie budget!!! Kudos indeed!!!

It surprises me that the whodunit genre seems to have vanished, with very few TV productions, and even fewer movies, a genre at one stage that was very strong. However now and then, a film like Candlestick pops up. It has all the elements of a good mystery, plot, characters, a slightly unhinged presence and a twist at the end. It looks very stylish, despite the low budget. It's well acted, perhaps not as glossy as could be, but that raw charm adds to the appeal. Andrew Fitch does a particularly fine job, enjoyed his performance very much. The Dial M for Murder influence is ever present, hats of the the writers, there is a touch of cleverness about this movie that makes it rather addictive. I love the seventies and eighties mysteries, the likes of Frances Durbridge, Ruth Rendell and Brian Clemens, Candlestick has that feel, the multi layered story with a sting in the tale.

Very impressed, 8/10