High-Rise (SFF Review)

High-Rise might just be the most underrated movie of the last couple of years when compared to its overall critic reviews (65/100 on Metacritic and 71% on Rotten Tomatoes). Those scores might not be as low as some other movies from the past half-decade but the average Joe wont like this movie. Why, you ask? Well it's sold as a Dredd/Snowpiecer movie where an apartment block acts as a metaphor for society. The movie is something more than what is being sold. It's an ambitious and visionary piece of work that should be remembered for years to come.

The movie begins with the end and as the opening of the J. G. Ballard novel of the same name puts it, "Later, as he sat on his balcony eating the dog, Dr. Robert Laing reflected on the unusual events that had taken place within this huge apartment building during the previous three months". With that line, while expanded upon on the film, explains to us so well how the movie will play out in terms of theme and tone. The film as a whole subverts your expectations in terms of story and dialogue. Where as other films, like Snowpiecer, have tackled the class issue in a straight forward approach, High-Rise never does the talking itself. It yearns for you to do it yourself, it has an undeniable trust in the audience, in a similar way David Lynch trusts his audience.

At the center of the story is Tom Hiddleston's character, Laing, a physician and teacher who has recently moved to the new high-rise apartment, (which looks like the UTS building in Sydney) after his divorce. Hiddleston's performance holds it own and he manages to prove to us that he is more than a fan favorite Marvel villain. The other cast members include Jeremy Irons (Royal), the owner and designer of the building and if had to assign the role of villain/antagonist to the movie it would be him. His character, like any good villain thinks what he is doing is right. Other cast members include Sienna Miller (Charlotte) who lives in the floor above Laing and ends up being romantically involved with Laing. Her son, Toby, played Louis Suc who stills the show in some scenes. Luke Evans and Elisabeth Moss play husband and wife in the lower floors.

Ben Wheatly's direction never lets the audience know for sure what will happen in the next scene, let alone the end of the one you're watching. He moves form scene to scene seamlessly but the movie does drag at bit at points but it does pick itself back up. Wheatly and cinematographer Laurie Rose use an orange and grey colour palette to the give the movie a feeling of dullness while hinting as if something is about to come and it's important but not in terms of character but rather the plot and it almost makes the building as a character itself.

High-Rise may be a love-it/hate-it film but it's one you should check out if you want to see a film maker who wants to make something more than sitting in a dark room for two hours.

Overall Score: 10/10

High-Rise is coming out 18th August, in a limited release

Director: Ben Wheatley

Writer: Amy Jump, J.G. Ballad (novel)

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, Elisabeth Moss and Louis Suc.

Cinematographer: Laurie Rose

Editor: Amy Jump and Ben Wheatley

Music/Score: Clint Mansell