The one setting crime thriller has
its grubby origins in the low budget end of the spectrum. This is a space also
reserved for horror films with similar budgets: decorate the space with plenty
of background visuals to hopefully give information to the viewer so you can
avoid energy sapping exposition. Only a supremely confident filmmaker and
screenwriter will fill a low budget film with dialogue. What immediately springs
to mind is Quentin Tarantino’s 1992 debut film Reservoir Dogs. This was low budget by Hollywood
standards. Peppering all sorts of pop culture reference throughout his witty,
sharp and concise screenplay he makes you enjoy a film about a robbery you
never see. This is a difficult thing to do as his imitators showed with films
that paled in comparison (Things to do in
Denver when you are Dead, Guy Richie’s thrillers)
Frank Kelly’s Derelict takes the one location idea from Reservoir Dogs and filters it through a Tiger kidnapping. A bank
manager, his wife and daughter are brought to a derelict factory by four men
after a kidnapping. The family are tied up while one of the men leaves with the
husband to get to the bank early to get the money. This is unseen and what we
are left with is a tension filled real time account of the wait. There is
promise in a situation like this. Turn the screws at the right pace and the
tension amps up particularly with the usual thriller time constraints. Add to
this mix the fact that the main kidnapper and his second in command are
estranged brothers and the stage is set for fireworks. Does Derelict deliver on
its promise?
The answer is yes but with a couple
of caveats. The opening shots of the film set the tone immediately. These are
beautifully composed shots of the derelict building empty. It emphasises that
the silence and emptiness will soon be interrupted. The gang themselves are
introduced in the next scene in a van as they drive towards the building. There
are the two brothers J (Michael Bates) and Davey Boy (Steve Gunn) who are
sitting up front. Their conversation is fraught and realistic in a very
impressive way. There are also the two other guys in the back of the van (who
know their place instinctively by being in the back): D (Gerry Shanahan) who is
the older robber who should have retired and lastly Tone (Patrick O’Donnell)
who is the younger guy with a line in dark humour. This scene is important as
not only does it set up the characters it is also one of the only scenes set
outside the derelict building.
This is one of the main problems for
me. Although I am sure that the film is kept at the building for both budgetary
reasons and to amplify the feeling of claustrophobia I did find myself longing
for even a small flashback scene to take me out of it for a couple of minutes.
This leads onto the other problem I had, namely not having enough invested to
care about the wife and daughter tied up. I can’t help thinking that a small
flashback scene to develop the family characters (much like the scene in the
van establishes the kidnappers) would have benefitted the film greatly. These
are minor gripes as the film does work overall.
Much of the fun to be had here is in
the relationship between the two brothers and the younger hothead. These scenes
crackle with both a sense of dread and dark humour. This is particularly true
with J and Davey Boy’s interaction. There is an authenticity here that adds
layers to the film. This relationship is superbly written and nicely acted and
it is what gives the film its heart, momentum and (as mentioned previously) its
tension. The young guy baits the younger brother constantly with some
gloriously offensive stuff to see if he snaps and it is very funny. More
happens in the film than I want to mention but suffice to say that the
kidnapping gets extremely complicated.
The finale of the film is well
staged if a little talky as characters give their reasons for why they are
doing what they are doing. It is an interesting angle and perspective that
chimes with our times but it is slightly over emphasised. Production values are
very good for a low budget film and the set is very effective in this regard. There
is an effective and edgy soundtrack by Dermot O’Mahony. Overall this is a fine
low budget thriller effectively directed by Frank Kelly that doesn’t outstay
its welcome. There are big budget thrillers that I wish I could say that about.
Derelict is being shown at the Droichead Arts Centre on January 12th.
droicheadartscentre.ticketsolve.com/shows/2013/1/12
Derelict is being shown at the Droichead Arts Centre on January 12th.
