Dead Bodies

Late night on BBC1, was on my way to bed but curiosity piqued at a contemporary-set Irish film so I stayed to watch for a few minutes and then stayed to the end. I have to admit that the main attraction was the only English actress, Kelly Reilly, who is stunning to look at.

This is billed as a black comedy, which is one of the hardest things to pull off. It should be the perfect blend of horror and horrible laughs so that in the end you don't know why you're laughing - for me Martin Scorsese's After Hours (1985) is the best example. Dead Bodies is more black than comedy but the plot rattles along and spirals down towards further blackness. I didn't spot the final twists in the tale as some other posters here did so I was suitably surprised.

As a snapshot of the Irish film industry in 2003, it all seems rather worthy; it doesn't look like they spent too much on the making of it so it had a chance to make its money back. The script could've been a whole lot sharper but the acting was on the whole pretty good. I'm glad I watched it, flaws and all, tho I don't think I learnt much about Ireland today, especially their policing methods!

I won't give an exact number of how many people bite the dust, but, for some reason, I expected it to be more. However, that's just my minor gripe. I actually enjoyed this film immensely.

It's about a layabout boyfriend whose girlfriend shouts at him one too many times. A horrific accident later and he's left working out the best way of disposing of a body (and there may be one or two more bodies to follow after that).

Most reviews touch on Danny Boyle's classic 'Shallow Grave,' as there are a few comparisons, but Dead Bodies isn't simply Ireland's answer to Boyle's first classic. Also, as others have mentioned the film does start off quite cheeky, almost as if it's trying to set the tone as a comedy. However, the comic feel starts to slowly dwindle as the bodies start to pile up (in not a very big pile). Therefore some people seem to lament the lack of quick-fire humour that the opening half hour displays.

The humour is well-written, so I can understand people missing it. However, if you just let it go and accept that the film ventures into something much darker then you should get something out of it.

It's one for people who like 'whodunits' who know who did it from the off.

Robert Quinn shows he's got the goods but needs to exercise better judgment when deciding what scripts to go with - You don't get too many shots. Well directed but where does one draw the line? - director has to take some credit for story choices and character motivation which in this instance was non existent.

Pauper's "Shallow Grave" this. Derek Landy had the very good fortune to see what passes in most instances for a first draft make it to the screen. One can only pray "Boy Eats Girl" is better for everyone's sake. Logic is non existent and characters are all unsympathetic and unlikeable, as evidenced by audiences in all media staying away in droves and film going down like a lead balloon internationally.

The main issue keeping this film from being better than what is here is the script. Not enough is allowed for development of the story to make this truly something to entice. Instead, the film follows plots and tropes of other mystery and thriller films and books. Acting us all decent, and that is what keeps the film watchable.

The film is a nice little cleverly written film, but the direction adds a very strong amateur feel to it. If Hollywood got there hands on the idea it might have been a world wide success but alas the Irish critics, if they have the right to be even called that have rallied behind him, making him sound like a prodigy but they are very over rated judgements. Whether or not he'll get any better at directing than this is yet very uncertain.

Some of the cast are really good others are born stage actors and should remain so.... still though with the Irish film board pumping out these low budget films it's no wonder the Irish film industry is light years behind everyone else. Out with the old and in with the new I say.. But Robert Quinn is a start... so mixed views.