Over the past few years, British director Ben Wheatley has solidified himself as one of the most creative and best genre filmmakers working in the business today. His first feature film Kill List was an unpredictable and weird thriller that marked an impressive debut and while that film aimed to get under your skin his upcoming DVD release of Sightseers does just the opposite, or nearly that.
Written by its two leads Alice Lowe and Steve Oram, Sightseers follows a regular British couple Tina and Chris as they adventure around the British Isle. Eager to venture off with Tina in his RV, Chris wants to show his sheltered new girlfriend what the world has to offer but things quickly shift as annoying people such as tourists decide to spoil Chris’ plans. Chris refuses to let these people ruin his trip and he soon does the unthinkable and kills a tourist and while at first it seemed shocking, Chris and Tina find the glue that will clearly hold them together, murder, and use it on people who don’t behave the way they believe people should, going on a dark yet hilarious crime spree.
Ben Wheatley has made an excellent film that’s worth watching if you want a good and unique romp from a film that looks as ordinary as its very leads. He understands how to pace the film and doesn’t waste time with unnecessary exposition, much of which we can thank the screenwriters for as well. The film is tight, moves fast when it needs to, moves slow when it needs to, and the timing of every joke is spot on.
Much of the humor in Sightseers comes from the shock of the initial kills but more so from the deadpan nature in which the leads act both during and after the killings as well as the way they deliver their lines. Even more laughs are garnered from the brutal nature of each kill as you never seem to know what these very average folks are capable of until it actually happens, then all you can do is roll over on your side and laugh.
What I really loved about the film was how dysfunctional Chris and Tina’s relationship seemed to get throughout the film. Tina is a middle-aged woman who lives with her mother and wants to experience things, Chris wants to provide that but as the film progresses Chris’ focus begins to wander and he starts getting agitated easily. What started off as wild sexual passion from the killings between the two later changes into anger, frustration and results in poor decisions made out of jealously that continues to strain their relationship until we reach the climax and hilariously dark ending that’s only satisfying because it works so well within the context of the film and genre.
Sightseers is certainly a must-see for fans of creative comedies and British cinema. Wheatley excels in the crime genre and he certainly has a hand for comedy making Sightseers an excellent decision should you choose to sit down and watch it. Thanks to the fantastic chemistry between the leads and the deadpan awkwardness of their performances we are treated to a film that comes off as so odd and weird that the genre blending black comedy turns out very well.
Movie Rating: A witty, dark and delightfully hilarious crime spree comedy (7/10)
DVD Rating: The DVD comes with seven interviews with the cast and crew as well as the trailer for the film so not much to really review (4/10)
Sightseers is now available on DVD from IFC
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