Bait

I just finished watching Adult Babies, another film by this director, and I mentioned this film in that review. The films have a lot in common, believe it or not -- sub par acting, script, and direction. The 2 I gave this film is generous, but it wasn't quite as abysmal as Adult Babies, so I didn't have much of a choice.

What happened to high quality British creations like Dead Man's Shoes?

Though better not, because you'll be baiting for a long time. Which can be considered a pun especially considering our main bad guy in this. The movie has a feel of TV movie of the week to it. The main bad guy being so cliché that he almost ruins a completely solid build up. The introduced female characters where really nice and felt "real". Overcoming diversities, standing their own ground and such things.

But again the moment the bad guy comes into the play ... and it's not like the viewer will not be aware of him. It's very predictable, to a point where you are wondering if the women shouldn't have seen it earlier. This is not a generalization, actually the characters seem strong enough to be aware or to have realized what was going to happen. If anyone is doing a generalization it's the movie. And it's a shame, because these things happen and the victims have a hard time battling them ... So while the theme/idea works and it starts off good, it does slide into bad country very quickly

Now considering the budget of this movie was a tiny 180k this puts some of the movies that Hollywood is producing to shame. The script is sharp and the characters are well formed, a little too well formed maybe. The lead psychopath does an excellent job in luring the audience in with his charm, while disguising an underlying darkness that is truly reprobate. His counterparts play their parts equally well with a mixture of desperation and fear. Bottom line the story is very simple but there is enough thrills to keep your attention all the way. Would definitely recommend this. I'm sure everyone in the cast will glean bigger roles thanks to this.

Bex and Dawn dream of opening a cafe together. Out of the blue, a generous businessman offers them the funds they need to make that dream a reality. Joy turns to crippling fear when the friends discover a vicious loan shark, who expects repayments or for them to suffer the consequences. Truly frightening and superbly written, this is a morality tale for the 21st century. The film is gritty to say the least with superb performances from the main cast who tackle the grim premise with a reality that's heart-breaking. Burrows beneath your skin from the off, with a sly edit that ekes out the tension to unbearable levels

Bait is a really cool film about debt collection in a small Yorkshire town, made by a guy who is in the U.K. soap Emmerdale apparently.

What is very clever about the film is the use of women as the victim/aggressors yes there are lots of films like this, but it's all about the way it's done. It's supremely clever, with some really good sub plots, horrific special effects (in a good way) and some absolutely blinding performances from the two leading ladies, one of whom is very courageous as she spends much of the film in her underwear.

I can't explain too much, but this film really is very well put together. It's not perfect, but what is? In the meantime is some very clever story telling, blinding direction and gripping action.