Third Contact (2013)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Definitely not Sci-Fi. And nor Thriller. Mystery something, yes it is. It is the mystery of the inner world of those suffering from depression. I met such people closely. I am convinced that they have a terrible life. Therefore many kill themselves. Living with them is not easy. They know very well how to make your life a hell. This is what I think that this movie is trying to express. The actors do their best. However, not easy to live that and put it into picture. I would had wrote more if I would had participated in the film as an actor. But Simon Horrocks just asked me to help him with money, believing that I am a rich producer. Which is not true, not at all.

I had the great pleasure of viewing this amazing little title after a seemingly random invitation via Twitter.The one constant that I have read online and personally experienced is what a surprisingly polished looking (and sounding) final product Horrocks has produced. Anyone who isn't an avid fan of micro budget indie film will be the first to tell you digital video doesn't look professional and is distracting. I tend to agree. I can't usually get absorbed into films like Inland Empire simply because of the format they are shot on. This is where Horrocks has done something rare and spectacular by making his budgetary restrictions really work for him. From the opening scene the film is instantly engaging and enthralling. The subject matter is challenging and not for everyone but rewarding nonetheless. The locations all look hauntingly familiar and yet skewed, like a bizarre dream. The score is superb and didn't rely on bombastic fanfare to elevate every key scene. The cast, especially Tim Scott- Walker did a fantastic job with the complex material and should be applauded for making some of these odd-ball characters so believable. There were a couple of lines in places with slightly clunky delivery but beyond that, I cannot find fault anywhere. Would it have benefited from having a much larger budget? Probably but It wouldn't make it any more or less watch-able. It's refreshing to see a director proving that buckets of cash aren't necessary to make a brilliant film, just a great story and a dedicated cast/crew.This is a definitely a director to watch out for. I imagine he could continue making little indie gems like this or move seamlessly on to big productions like Lynch or Nolan. I highly recommend anyone who loves film to seek this out.

Third Contact was the first movie I've watched without knowing what its plot is going to be about. Of course I was a bit worried about that unknown terrain. But turns out - it was brilliant. The thing I've liked the most were the fascinating camera angles which were totally new for me. They gave you this kind of feeling as if you would be part of the film. You can hardly describe the atmosphere during the movie. Neither the one in the film itself, nor the one in the cinema. You always feel that something, a part of the story is hidden and you just wanna know what it's all about. And that is the real beauty of this masterpiece: The topic is not something you would expect. You can't even imagine what happens in the next scene, where the characters will be, what they will do. Unlike many other Hollywood-productions. The music was perfectly placed and gave even more depth to the film than it already had. All in all a very inspiring and unbelievable interesting film which gives you lots to talk and to speculate about. I've really enjoyed watching it.

I am a huge fan of indie film. I vastly prefer them to most of what comes out of Hollywood as they tend to be far more creative in terms of script and story and characters, and as they don't have huge budgets, then the makers have got to get creative with certain things. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Here is an example of where it absolutely does. Trying to explain this film to someone would be quite an impossible task. The best way to describe it is as a deep and involving psychological film with a few shades of Darren Aronofsky's "Pi", which is indeed an accomplishment in itself. The fact that this is a British film that doesn't involve gritty gangs and gangsters is also impressive, as all that tends to come from the British film industry is that or period pieces really. Which can get tiresome after a while.This is a very important piece of film and it is showing that the indie film scene is getting more and more creative with each passing day, and it is hugely important to invest in such a thing to keep the creativity going. If this film gets a screening near you, I absolutely urge you to go and see it. The performances, the black and white slight shakiness, the dialogue, the script, the direction - it is all truly a work of art. The director Si Horrocks is clearly on a mission to make good films and show the world that it can be done with very little, and in that mission he has completely succeeded. I personally can not wait to see what he does next.