SIGHTSEERS (2013)

Directed By: Ben Wheatly 
Written By: Alice Lowe & Nick Oram (Additional Material – Amy Jump) 
Cinematography By: Laurie Rose 
Editor: Ben Wheatly, Amy Jump & Robin Hill 

Cast: Alice Lowe, Nick Oram, Eileen Davies, Monica Dolan, Jonathan Aris


Chris wants to show girlfriend Tina his world, but events soon conspire against the couple and their dream caravan holiday takes a very wrong turn.

Not your typical NATURAL BORN KILLERS

This is a dark comedy and the first director Ben Wheatly didn’t originate or co-write. Though his wife who he usually writes with did do a pass on the script with rewrites as she did with his previous film KILL LIST. Actually the leads noted comedians wrote the original screenplay.

This film still feels right up his alley in fact I enjoyed this film a lot more than his last. It brings to mind his 1st film DOWN TERRACE but bigger in vision and scope though keeping the cast as usual minimal this is his most visual film. Not as many chills, but plenty of thrills.

This film reminds me of the film THIRST where the protagonist unleashes something which women that he didn’t account for and proves to be more vicious then him. He seems to do it as either accidental or can’t help himself she seems to do it more out of fun.

The film maintains it’s humor throughout though it doesn’t back away from the violence. It doesn’t overdue it either. Yet for it’s cynical nature it doesn’t bathe in bitter.

The leads are believable as a new couple who seem more normal an average. Though as the film comes along we learn how both are genial, but beaten down by life. Just seeking an escape to have fun in one another’s company. As the idyllic life is constantly interrupted by some person or nuisance. The lead decides to take action. He’s not malicious nor cunning or any of it planned. It’s more crime of passion or anger or accident. .Through it all we are never scared of him nor hate him. The film doesn’t make him a hero. But kind of puts us to a degree on his side.

We worry for Tina at times, but while shocked at first she quickly becomes comfortable with it. We can understand why they both have this anger. Him through frustration. Her through the introduction of her home life with her overbearing mother. Though the film is short it builds to a hilarious and exciting third act. Where the film becomes more of a battle of wills as the couple comes apart. Leading to a realistic yet ironic ending.

He seems to want someone or finds in her someone to control who as the film comes long finds a inner strength that disturbs him as he seems at first to want to be the charmer, the one in control the so called man of the relationship who slowly starts to lose it. She seems beaten down by her mother’s over the top need of her and her care. Who also only offers insults and negative comments on everything.

GRADE: B+