Ah, Oddity. A movie that dares to ask, "What if we made a slow burn without the burn?" Directed by Damian Mc Carthy, this film is a masterclass in how to make absolutely nothing happen over the course of 90 minutes. Starring Gwilym Lee as Ted Timmis and Carolyn Bracken as Darcy, Oddity is aptly named, considering how odd it is that anyone thought this script was worth filming.
Let's start with the positives-well, Gwilym Lee and Carolyn Bracken do show up on screen. They say their lines and move about the sets, which I suppose is the minimum requirement for acting. The cinematography is also technically there; the camera captures the characters as they drift through a plot that's as exciting as watching paint dry. And the sound design ensures you can hear every tedious word of dialogue without any pesky distractions from, say, an engaging plot or compelling action.
Now, onto the real meat of this review: the negatives. Oddity is the cinematic equivalent of a lukewarm cup of coffee on a dreary Monday morning. It lulls you into a false sense of anticipation, hinting at a storyline that never actually arrives. Imagine waiting for a spark that never ignites, a crescendo that never reaches its peak. The film bills itself as a slow burn, but it's missing the crucial element-the burn. Instead, what we get is a painfully slow slog through mundane conversations and uneventful scenes that stretch on and on, seemingly without end.
Ted and Darcy meander through their lives with all the urgency of a snail on tranquilizers. The tension is non-existent, the stakes are laughably low, and the so-called twists are so telegraphed that you see them coming from a mile away. The supposed climax of the movie, which should be the moment everything comes together, is more of a gentle nudge towards the exit door, as if the film itself is apologizing for taking up your time.
In the end, Oddity leaves you wondering what you just watched and why. It's a cinematic black hole, sucking 90 minutes of your life into its void without offering anything in return. If you're looking for a film to make you feel something-anything-look elsewhere. This one's a real oddity, alright: a movie where nothing happens and you're left questioning your life choices for having watched it.
Let's start with the positives-well, Gwilym Lee and Carolyn Bracken do show up on screen. They say their lines and move about the sets, which I suppose is the minimum requirement for acting. The cinematography is also technically there; the camera captures the characters as they drift through a plot that's as exciting as watching paint dry. And the sound design ensures you can hear every tedious word of dialogue without any pesky distractions from, say, an engaging plot or compelling action.
Now, onto the real meat of this review: the negatives. Oddity is the cinematic equivalent of a lukewarm cup of coffee on a dreary Monday morning. It lulls you into a false sense of anticipation, hinting at a storyline that never actually arrives. Imagine waiting for a spark that never ignites, a crescendo that never reaches its peak. The film bills itself as a slow burn, but it's missing the crucial element-the burn. Instead, what we get is a painfully slow slog through mundane conversations and uneventful scenes that stretch on and on, seemingly without end.
Ted and Darcy meander through their lives with all the urgency of a snail on tranquilizers. The tension is non-existent, the stakes are laughably low, and the so-called twists are so telegraphed that you see them coming from a mile away. The supposed climax of the movie, which should be the moment everything comes together, is more of a gentle nudge towards the exit door, as if the film itself is apologizing for taking up your time.
In the end, Oddity leaves you wondering what you just watched and why. It's a cinematic black hole, sucking 90 minutes of your life into its void without offering anything in return. If you're looking for a film to make you feel something-anything-look elsewhere. This one's a real oddity, alright: a movie where nothing happens and you're left questioning your life choices for having watched it.