On the Brink Film Review - draft

One in four people will be affected by mental health issues in their lifetime. John falls firmly into that category, more so than his family realise. On the Brink explores the escalating distress of a father who appeared so exuberant as he welcomed his daughter and partner into his home at the very beginning. These two, Rebecca and Alfie, have travelled from Derby to visit for the night, and reveal their “special announcement”. The essence of John’s character is sculpted through Rebecca’s understanding of her dad. This relationship is the focal point of the short film, with her siblings (what were their names again?) going under the radar.

Brilliantly played by Glen Ferguson, John’s emotions are portrayed through strikingly intrusive camerawork and complex editing. The painfully upbeat music being blasted out from downstairs only increases John’s agony as he tries to escape the busy dinner table by going to the bathroom. One of his many mental battles appears to be with drug use, as he consumes these illicit substances at the unlikeliest of times. Hidden behind the mirror, the concealed placement of the drugs seems to reflect aspects of John’s secretive personality. Rebecca is the one person John allows in to his secluded mind, with even his wife Jenny yelling “I don’t know what to do!” when he appears missing following his trip to the bathroom. Leading the search for her father, Rebecca, unbeknownst to how long she has to find him, rushes to the nearby church hoping to discover the truth.

Director Nathan Wilkins uses flashbacks and voice-overs to dig inside John and Rebecca’s heads. This aligns us with both protagonists to educate us of their past and make us fret over their near future. The Morgan Freemanesque voice-over made for an ending that forced every hair on my arm to stand in unison.

The clear switch in genre is an interesting twist on short films like Mathieu Ratthe’s Lovefield, where instead of beginning with a Thriller, we end up with what feels like one. The intro is reminiscent of a Rom-Com, with its overly merry characters, and Alfie flowing straight into conversations with people he’s never met. Things soon take a turn for the worse, with John’s mental health suddenly exposed.

Despite the slow beginning, which was presumably intentional to demonstrate the calm before the storm, the film bursts into life when the family divides in a bid to find John. The gripping finale is enough to make you want to hide behind your popcorn, yet your eyes will be fixed on the screen for the beautifully distressing scene. The stunning setting, exceptional acting and thrilling soundtrack come together to put us all on the brink.

Ratings:

Anticipation – 4 – On the Brink is unique hybrid twist with lots to get excited about.

Enjoyment – 3 – Though a bit slow to begin with, it’s riveting in the end.

In Retrospect – 4 – Overall very powerful and thought provoking.