Director: Malcolm Mowbroy
Cast: Sam Neil, Helena Bonham-Carter, Kristen Scott Thomas, Steeve Coogan, Rupert Graves, Martin Clunes, John Wood
Distributor: Miramax
Classification: M 15+ : Low Level Violence, Low Level Course Language
Running Time: 86 Minutes
Special Features: None

This is one of those movies that has slipped under the radar of contemporary culture, but shouldn’t have. It’s a witty film, at times outrageous, and quite black in its scope. Based on Alan Ayckbourn’s hit play “The Revenger’s Comedies”, it’s one of the few play to film conversions that utilises the devices of the film medium to great effect, without losing the impact of speech, so important to a play – basically it doesn’t seem like you’re watching a filmed play.

The story starts as Henry Bell (Sam Neil) is standing on London Bridge, about to throw himself off. He has lost his home, job and wife, and can’t see any future for himself. He hears the cries of a woman, and rescues her, perhaps the bravest and most foolish thing he has done in his life.

The woman is Karen Knightly (Helen Bonham-Carter, looking nothing like the Michael Jackson clone she plays in Planet of the Apes), an eccentric country lass who also decided to off herself too. Over coffee, Karen convinces Henry that revenge is needed on those who led them to consider themselves worthless, and they return to her stately country mansion.

The next morning, Henry wakes up naked strapped to a bed, as Karen’s maid tidies the room. This is the beginning of Henry’s introduction to Karen’s world, a crazy, psychotic mix of wealth and worthlessness; a stunning indictment on the aristocracy of England. Its all here – fox hunting, horse riding, squirrel shooting, sexual indiscretion, and a simmering violence that explodes as Karen’s plans are put into action.

Helen Bonham-Carter is excellent as the twisted, manipulating Karen. At times she has an undefinable sexiness about her, and at other times is repulsive both in looks and actions. Sam Neil is rather good at playing the clueless Londoner who gets sucked into Karen’s world, and you believe right from the beginning that he is just a pawn in a massive game.

Steve Coogan (24 Hour Party People, I’m Alan Partridge) is wonderful as Henry’s arch nemesis, the leery and disgusting Bruce Tick, who, while is instantly dislikeable, doesn’t deserve Karen’s attentions. Kristen Scott Thomas does a reasonable job at playing Imogen Staxton-Billing, Karen’s arch nemesis, although the instant attraction between her and Henry is a little unbelievable. Martin Clunes (men behaving badly) plays Imogen’s unfaithful, uncaring husband Anthony, brilliantly, as is Rupert Greaves, who plays Karen’s crazy, bike-through-the-mansion riding brother, Oliver. The ensemble cast work well together, and while this film is not as good as other British comedies to come out in recent years such as Bend it Like Beckham or Snatch, I still found it to be enjoyable and amusing.