Inspired by
J.M. Synge’s ‘The Playboy of the Western World’, Sean (son of Pierce) Brosnan’s
directorial debut shifts the play’s setting from Ireland to the Mississippi for
this Southern Gothic gory tale of revenge.
In a monochrome flashback we are
shown a father, Ivan (Gary Stretch) pummelling to death one of his sons whilst the
other, 12 year old Asher (Joe Anderson) loses both his speech and hearing
during the attack. Ivan is jailed for this monstrous assault, but when he is
released two decades later Asher sets out to avenge his brother’s death and to
kill the man who maimed him both physically and mentally.
A gripping,
often brutal study in dysfunctional family dynamics, tattooed monster Ivan
stomps across the swamp landscapes like an indestructible Terminator whilst his
adrenaline fuelled son Asher alternates between pre-emptive strikes against his
old papa and seat-of-the-pants retreats. An already heady bayou gumbo is
further seasoned with flavoursome support characters such as a dodgy preacher
and Nana (Candice Smith), her dead brother’s girlfriend (and object of Ivan’s
lust), who Asher unwillingly ends up dragging back in to the fatal cat and
mouse game he is playing with his (seemingly) unstoppable father from hell.
Whilst there
are momentary lapses of reason, (one particular moment had me almost shout at
the screen in pure frustration – I won’t elaborate further for spoiler
reasons), this remains a powerful, haunting and visually ambitious first feature
from Mr Brosnan. I just hope given both the title and subject matter, that it isn’t
in the least autobiographical!
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