MEDUSA DELUXE (2022)

 

Written & Directed By: Thomas Hardiman

Cinematography: Robbie Ryan

Editor: Fouad Gaber

Cast: Luke Pasqualino, Lilit Lesser, Clare Perkins, Kayla Meikle, Kae Alexander, Harriet Webb, Darrell Silva, Debris Stevenson 

A murder mystery set in a competitive hairdressing contest. Extravagance and excess collide, as the death of a contestant sows seeds of division in a community whose passion for hair verges on obsession.

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This mystery film set at a hair styling competition has proven to me that, I have yet to see a satisfying film set at hairstyling competition unless you wanna count the documentary good hair 

This film is beautifully filmed all in one take. So you admire the creativity and talent involved in that, but frankly that is all the film has to offer… craft. Yet no real depth or characters. 

As like the film THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER after a while, you just don’t care who the killer is. You just want this film to end. as for the few interesting characters. You never really get a chance to truly get to know them. Before the film leaves them for others. 

you’re constantly wondering the specifics of this murder, as you’re getting information secondhand and through different points of view. as the film occasionally keeps handing the narrative over to a different character or a set of characters

So that while the technical parts of the film are quite amazing. You just wish that there was more of a story or at least a better one as for all its technical achievement. It just seems to lack that heart where the audience wants to have interest then by the end, when all of a sudden done it kind of ends with a whimper so even if you had some excitement as to how it all ends once it does it just feels like there should’ve been more as it just feels like OK. How do you even really feel like it’s ending? It’s just that the filmmaker decided this will be a good place to stop

As the filmmakers clearly put so much concentration in passion into making sure they can get this film done all in one shot. You just wish they would’ve put that much energy and work into the story as well as that is where the film truly suffers and unfortunately, so does the audience 

Though the film does have its moments, especially when there’s an impromptu choreographed musical sequence near the end that actually breathe some life into the film. Which you wish there was more of throughout even as a surprise to keep you intrigued and more on your toes. 

unfortunately, in the end it’s style over substance which one can get works, considering where it is set. Which is a shame as one had such hope for the film. 

Grade: C-