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Messages (2007)

Director: David Fairman

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3 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Scripted by working pathologist and Hammer horror expert Dr Wayne Kinsey, this supernatural crime thriller focuses on the string of naked female corpses left by an eye-gouging serial killer, The Optician. Sadly, its optical metaphors and ghostly mysteries quickly degenerate into a blur of random flashbacks, dream sequences and clichéd imagery (spookily lit dolls and masks). Grieving, drink-addled pathologist Dr Richard Murray (Jeff Fahey) receives cries for help from what he believes to be the unquiet souls of the murdered women. Or perhaps these messages from ‘the other side’ are the prickings of guilty conscience. Did he perpetrate these crimes, during his alcoholic black-outs?

David Fairman’s laughably inept direction, cinematographer Simon Dennis’ ludicrous lighting and Paul Turner’s ear-grating score provide an amateurish setting for the lazy performances of a bunch of has-beens: ‘Lawnmower Man’ Fahey, ‘Cagney and Lacey’ support player Martin Kove and ex-footballer Jon-Paul Gates. It’s easy to see why this piffle had to be independently financed – no film company executive in its right mind would have touched it with a barge pole.

Author: Nigel Floyd 2007-06-12 10:36:06

Time Out London Issue 1921: June 13-19 2007

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User reviews of this film

  • ivor pitt said...
    Posted on Mar 12 2008 13:18 ivor pitt was obviously having a tipple when he penned
    Apologies to all and sundried for misspelling the word humorous (written as humerous) and probably got slightly confused with the word humourless and which was certainly not meant to be implied. Must avoid writing in the dark.
    Report as inappropriate
  • ivor pitt said...
    Posted on Mar 10 2008 14:22 I completely endorse the Time Out Review.
    As written the humerous (laughably inept) direction, the preposterous (ludicrous) lighting and the fantastic hauntingly modern (ear grating) score all contribute to this unbelievable film that will surely become a cult classic. There is nothing more rewarding then watching actors performing well within themselves in an unselfish laid back (lazy performances) manner. A little bit of bunkum (piffle) can make for an enjoyably weird experience (no doubt helped by a glass of beer and a pepperoni pizza. Englnd's best movie critic John Chipchase summed up the film admirably when he said that the lighting was dark throughout most of the film. It seems as though the hairs on his neck were troublesome (sometimes a trip to the barber can cure this) but he obviously enjoyed the film. My only disagreement with Mr Chipchase is that I found that the bits in which you cannot see anything are brilliantly directed and are definitely the best bits in the film. This is also the time when the cast are at their best. Cannot wait for the sequel ....... please hurry
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  • John Chipchase said...
    Posted on Dec 27 2007 11:27 All in all an enjoyable film which had the hairs on my neck on end on a couple of occasions. I think the film was well directed and the actors well cast. My only comment against the film was the lighting throughout most of the film which was too dark.
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Messages

Cast & crew

Director: David Fairman

Cast: Jeff Fahey, Kim Thomson, Martin Kove, Bruce Payne, Jon-Paul Gates full cast

Genre(s): Thrillers

Duration: 93 mins


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