There’s just something about British drama that puts its American counterpart to shame. There’s a subtlety to it, a sense of quiet tension, that places it leaps and bounds above many of the films being made here on this side of the pond. A terrific example of this phenomenon is Wreckers. Written and directed by Dictynna Hood, it’s a story that could easily reach Lifetime levels of schmaltz and smut, but thanks to its distinct English restraint, it’s a far better movie than it could have been.
The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy as “David” and “Dawn,” a husband and wife who have returned to David’s childhood home. When David’s long lost brother “Nick” (Shaun Evans) arrives for a surprise visit, the couple finds their relationship thrown into a state of crisis.
Hood’s directorial style can best be described as intimate, allowing us to get up close and personal with the characters and become utterly engrossed in their lives. What’s more, her deceptively simple script reveals details so carefully that it’s impossible not to be kept on the edge of one’s seat in anticipation.
The cast is, of course, stellar. Cumberbatch and Foy, both brilliant in their own right, have created a relationship that feels lived-in and unfamiliar all at once. The real star of the show, though, is Evans, whose volatility and anxious charm make him dangerously likeable.
All in all, if you’re looking for something juicy that never stoops to melodrama, Wreckers is definitely for you. It’s brutally intense but still perfectly understated, making for a deliciously thrilling treat.
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