205. Surge; movie review

 

 

SURGE

Cert 15

100 mins

BBFC advice: Contains very strong language, strong threat, bloody images

We all have our breaking points, don't we?

But what if we were really pushed? And I mean really REALLY pushed?

That is the question posed in Aneil Karia's Surge which stars Ben Whishaw as a lonely airport security officer whose fuse is finally blown.

Whishaw plays Joseph who already appears to have mental health issues denoted by twitches and behaviour which most of us would think was erratic.

The monotony of his job, the attitudes of airport passengers and his work colleagues, his annoying neighbour and his unloving parents all combine to put stress on his mental health.

And then there is loneliness. Joseph lives alone in a flat where he heats up ready meals and watches TV.

He yearns for a relationship but gives the impression that he probably wouldn't know what to do if it were offered.

Instead, he goes through a Groundhog Day existence until he finally snaps.

Whishaw is a great actor and excels as Joseph who is the focus of the film's lens for its entire duration. He portrays the unravelling of mental health with incredible energy.

Unfortunately, however, there are a couple of significant elements of the movie which jarred.

For example, most workplaces would have robust procedures in place to take care of someone who is displaying significant behavioural changes.

Secondly, there are key scenarios in which bank robberies are made out to be as easy as nicking a packet of chewing gum from a corner shop.

Nevertheless, it does provoke thought about those who are cut off from mainstream society and then feel the need to do something dramatic to make their mark.

Reasons to watch: Ben Whishaw is excellent

Reasons to avoid: Jolts around too much

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know? Ben Whishaw won the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his portrayal of Norman Scott in A Very English Scandal 

The final word. Aneil Karia: "I was quite interested in intrusive thoughts and these urges that every human being seems to get to do things that are clearly going to be detrimental to their life. They can range from the absurd, like standing up in a meeting and yodelling, to the really distressing ones, like harming your children or stepping onto the train tracks as a train comes. We don’t actually want to do these things but the body has the urge to, and I found that really interesting." Loud and Clear

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