Klokkenluider

Welcome to Breakout, the MASSIVE scheme sending 12 first-time writers to London Film Festival to write their debut professional film reviews. For the 12 days following the 12 days of the festival, we’ll be publishing the writing of our chosen stars to celebrate cinema at its finest and introduce you to the next generation’s most promising new critics.

Next up, London’s Julian De Pavia reviews Klokkenluider.

How British can humour be before starting to self-parody? Klokkenluider appears to spend its first act answering that question, its deadpan sense of humour launching immediately. But, simultaneously, this story of government conspiracy and two whistleblowers retreating into the boondocks presents a dark, tense situation. A joke undercuts each stressful moment. The combination works like peanut butter and mustard. Fortunately, later, mustard becomes jam.

Mr and Mrs Appleby (Amit Shah and Sura Dohnke) possess some bombshell political information. They’re hiding out at a beautiful Flemish lake house, awaiting journalist Flo (Jenna Coleman) and joined by two armed bodyguards (Tom Burke and Roger Evans) who claim they’ve been sent by the newspaper. The lake house has an Overlook Hotel air of isolation, with panoramic cinematography enhancing the awe of the location.

The plot is immensely Hitchcockian, reminiscent of The 39 Steps’ theme of escaping with government secrets, and foolishly deciding to trust strangers. A deliberate vagueness about the Applebys’ secret, which could “bring down the world’s governments,” increases the tension. First-time director Neil Maskell is an experienced actor, so clearly understands characterisation. Yet, he tries to do too much at once, never quite settling on a theme.

The tone flips when Flo eventually arrives. All humour disappears, adding to the menace surrounding the Applebys. Producer Ben Wheatley’s (Free Fire, Sightseers) signature negative world view shines through. However, the abrupt dark turn feels like Klokkenluider became another film accidentally.

There is an ongoing identity crisis. Is Klokkenluider a bleak British comedy, or brutal thriller? The charades scene underlines this. Nobody quite gets what anyone is trying to say, yet everyone painfully laughs through it. There were certainly a few moments where I felt the same. 

The UK release date for Klokkenluider is yet to be confirmed. Check back here for more Breakout reviews.