Today was film - top of the list that looked watchable was an Indian film (to be fair, probably overrated) called Thudarum. However, it was only on today, anywhere reasonably close, at 11am.. at which time I was still in bed. Anywhere else it was showing was nearly an hour and a half away, at least.. besides which, I was actually much more interested in what was second on the list.
Hallow Road turns out to be a Screen Ireland production! Filmed in the Wicklow woods, it stars Rosamund Pike as a paramedic, who - following a frightful row with her daughter earlier in the evening, in which she stormed out - gets a frightening phone call in the wee small hours, from her terrified daughter, who says she's just run someone over. In the middle of said woods, although they're supposed to be in England somewhere. So, mother and father hop in the car to go find, and help, her. Along the way, BTW, we find out it's Hallowe'en..
Curzon Aldgate was the closest showing it - I could get the bus, but wow, the traffic was dreadful! And the first bus stopped short, so I couldn't take it - so did the second, actually, but got as far as I needed it to. I still had a free cinema ticket to use - lovely! And I arrived during the ads - just.
Shades of Locke in this, for me, with almost the entire story taking place in the car, through phone calls. And the tension is palpable, what with rows between the couple about what to do, a panicked voice on the other end of the phone - and, of course, some stranger coming into the picture, again on the other end of the phone, so the parents can't see what's going on. With some scary sound effects (again, something happening, on the other end of the phone, that the parents can't see), it's all quite unnerving.
Now, for a horror fan, the conclusion is unsatisfying - and not very scary. However, looking at the film without a horror bias, it does pose some interesting questions - particularly if you hang on and take a peek at the cast list at the end of the film. It's more specific than that online..
So, in brief, this is a film that looks at the relationship between parents and children, particularly at that tricky time when they're heading out into the big, bad world and making their own choices. And their parents might want to protect them, shield them - but that's not always possible. The ending is rather ambiguous.. but whether you want to believe in a supernatural ending, or one more mundane, it is a creepy story, and one probably worth checking out. Despite the fact that its rating has quickly plummeted.
Dinner afterwards, and I headed to Cote St. Katharine Docks - plenty of people were eating outside, but I thought the breeze a bit cool, and stayed inside. Very photogenic location though, on a sunny day - even people returning from the pro-Palestinian protest stopped for selfies!
For dessert, I didn't fancy anything really - except the muscat, of which I had a half-bottle. Well, I wasn't in a hurry..
Tomorrow, meeting Ivan - with all the pubs near him unbookable because of the Hackney half-marathon, I suggested he come to me, and we're headed to The Old Thameside Inn, walking distance from me, and in an area I love.
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