Movie Review – The Winter Lake (2020)

The Winter Lake, 2020.

Directed by Phil Sheerin.
Starring Emma Mackey, Charlie Murphy, Mark McKenna, Michael McElhatton and Anson Boon.

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SYNOPSIS:

Elaine (Charlie Murphy) and Tom (Anson Boon) have moved to a distant household farmhouse. Neighbours Ward (Michael McElhatton) and Holly (Emma Mackey) quickly turn into embroiled within the lives of those newcomers, as Tom stumbles on one thing horrific down by the lake. A secret nobody needs to be compelled to maintain quickly sends ripples by way of this quiet neighborhood, as savage repercussions lead all of them down into darkness.

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This unrelenting story of isolation has a dour disposition, bleak outlook and stays oppressively atmospheric all through. There may be minimal respite from a movie which prides itself on instilling no pleasure into proceedings, while weighing characters down with miserable dialogue exchanges. The Winter Lake is tough work, onerous to look at and retains audiences at a distance. Author David Turpin has chosen a repugnant premise, that veers between the macabre and maudlin by the use of downright depressing.

Elaine, performed with quiet desperation by Charlie Murphy, feels at odds along with her environment. The explanations for shifting into this farmhouse are by no means made clear, whereas Anson Boone’s Tom does little to assist issues. Their exchanges are charged with a mix of vitriol, contempt and resentment with solely the smallest splash of maternal intuition. Rattling round on this bricks and mortar mausoleum, there’s a sense of hopelessness which infiltrates each body.

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After they encounter Emma Mackey’s Holly and Michael McElhatton’s Ward issues fail to enhance. Conversations between Holly and Tom are marred by a discovery which turns their later encounters into awkward affairs, punctuated by an unstated acknowledgement of intentional wrongdoing. A lot of the issue with The Winter Lake arises by way of its pedestrian pacing, which sucks suspense from any scenario.

Scenes really feel dragged out moderately than engrossing, glacial moderately than pushed by dramatic gusto and the movie suffers. There is no such thing as a denying the dedication of the principal gamers, however for some purpose it fails to have interaction. Within the opening twenty minutes of this kitchen sink drama Anson Boon dominates exuding a brooding presence. Uncommunicative and self-absorbed, Tom walks round like a primed powder keg ready to blow up.

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Throughout the corridor his mom Elaine is hanging on by her fingernails, however moderately than dwell on that director Phil Sheerin prefers to deal with Tom’s instabilities. His behavioural quirks and aggressive overreactions hang-out each minute of The Winter Lake. This sense of pressure solely will increase when the movie examines the complicated relationship between their neighbours Ward and Holly. A father and daughter who’re fleshed out with few phrases, fewer actions and a historical past of undesirable consideration. A very protecting manner, sudden outbursts of disproportionate violence and an ungainly paternal relationship quickly start elevating alarm bells.

Emma Mackey and Michael McElhatton work onerous to breathe life into this genuinely broken pairing, but for everybody right here empathy on any stage is in brief provide. Redemption just isn’t on supply and the pessimism is tangible, solely rising in depth till a shock ending wakes audiences up. An inherent lethargy permeates two thirds of The Winter Lake, which means that audiences are past caring when each barrels lastly arrive. This small city drama may broach some contentious points and have strong performances, however its oppressive undertones and lacklustre pacing undermine all the pieces else.

Flickering Fable Ranking – Movie: ★ ★ ★ / Film: ★ ★ ★

Martin Carr


 

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