HARPOON
Directed by: Rob Grant
Starring: Munro Chambers, EmilyTyra, Christopher Grey, Brett Gelman
Best friends Richard and Jonah get into a big fight when Richard suspects his best friend of sleeping with his girlfriend Sasha, after discovering some ambiguous texts. When they convince him its all a misunderstanding, a chastened Richard offers to take them out on his yacht for a day's fishing and sunbathing. However, wounded egos haven't healed, there are more revelations to be had and Jonah and Sasha have just given Richard a speargun as his birthday present…
Harpoon is another darling of the festival circuit, and one which I've heard a lot of buzz about following its showing at this year's Frightfest in London. Watching it on a screener is nothing like seeing this in a proper cinema, so if you do get the chance….go see this film!
With just three characters on screen (Brett Gelman provides the narration but never appears, and we never find out his context to the story…perhaps he's the boat??), you may be forgiven in thinking this will take its time to get going. I'm here to tell you that there is barely a spare minute of slack here. This is a lean mean movie which keeps hitting and hitting you with tested loyalties and shocking revelations as well as visceral violence.
The script is excellent. I haven't come across something this acerbic since Richard Bates Jr's TRASH FIRE. The actors are perfect for the roles, delivering great multilayered performances which will have you sympathizing with some one moment abhorred by them the next. And the sardonic voiceover is a great addition. The scene where he explains all the bad luck the trio have brought on board is really well done.
The only issue I have with this is the very last moment. It's one of those ironic punchlines which unfortunately robs the viewer of a satisfactory outcome, much like the finale of DOWNRANGE. However this is a small blip in an otherwise genius film.
THE VERDICT
A lot of films which do well at festivals find it difficult to find a wider audience. I doubt this is going to be the case for HARPOON, a film which will ride high on my list of top ten DTV movies of this year. This is highly recommended.