‘The dead have come calling’
The Messenger is a 2015 British supernatural mystery horror film directed by David Blair (Mystics) from a screenplay by Andrew Kirk.
The premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on 20 June 2015 and is being distributed by Metrodome.
Cast:
Robert Sheehan (Misfits), Lily Cole, Joely Richardson, Tamzin Merchant, David O’Hara, Deirdre O’Kane, Andrew Tiernan.
Official synopsis:
We all want to believe in life after death and imagine loved ones looking over us, feel their presence in a draft of air, or the faint essence of a familiar smell. It’s what we crave, knowing they wait for us. But Jack isn’t waiting – they won’t leave him alone.
Some might call Jack a troubled soul, at odds with the world, unable to conform. If you saw him in the pub – dishevelled and drunk, talking to himself – you’d stay well away, think he was disturbed somehow, crazy. However, Jack has a sharp mind and a razor wit. It’s not that he doesn’t want to live a normal life, he can’t. They won’t let him…”
Reviews:
“Only a partially successful venture due to a script lacking invention and narrative hooks, The Messenger is nonetheless a showcase for homegrown talent and particularly Robert Sheehan. The movie’s distinctively British feel is also a soothing antidote to all the generic horror mystery fodder that comes from across the pond.” Digital Spy
“Sheehan shows some considerable chops with his performance, but it’s muddled by the fact that his character is such an unlikable jerk. The rest of the cast fare worse due to their flat characters, and the story just phones it in without putting effort into making the proceedings interesting, leaving the items that are interesting hanging or dropped entirely.” Bloody Disgusting
“On the whole, The Messenger is beautifully, inventively shot, and has its moments of power and impact. However, rarely do these moments link together to form a coherent or convincing plot […] It is Sheehan’s electrifying performance which ties it together, and, as such, the film works best if viewed as a character study rather than a horror or psychological thriller.” The Upcoming
Cast and Characters:
- Robert Sheehan as Jack
- Lily Cole as Emma
- Joely Richardson as Psychiatrist
- Tamzin Merchant as Emma
- David O’Hara as DCI Keane
- Deirdre O’Kane as Mum
- Andrew Tiernan as Father
- Jack Fox as Mark
- Alex Wyndham as Martin
- Ali Cook as Geoff
Filming locations:
Peak District, Northern England
Trailer:
