Considering Benedict Cumberbatch has appeared in a host of big-budget films such as Atonement, The Other Boleyn Girl and more recently Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – it comes as somewhat of a surprise to see the talented actor appear in Wreckers, a much smaller feature film. Although the gifted performer couldn’t save what was otherwise a quite unexciting film.
Appearing at the London Film Festival, Wreckers is the debut production by D.R. Hood, and tells of a young married couple attempting to start a family. Dawn (Claire Foy) and David (Cumberbatch) decide to move back to the village David grew up in – although when the husband’s younger brother Nick (Shaun Evans) returns home from national service, his arrival ignites a rivalry between the two brothers, revealing much dishonesty rooted into the marriage.
Wreckers is a drama exploring the intimacy and infidelity between a seemingly happy couple – and how the most extraneous of situations can expose such issues. However, where the film falls short is within its characters, and the dynamics of the relationship between Dawn and David.
Neither half of the married pair have much depth to them, and their quite bland personalities doesn’t allow for the audience to feel particularly emotive towards either of them, or sympathetic of their situation. I think much of this is down to the lack of any preceding understanding of their relationship. We don’t really have an insight into the couples past to see them when they were happy and blissfully in love – therefore meaning that when things go pear-shaped, it doesn’t have much substance and as a result it becomes quite difficult to appreciate the predicament they are in.
However, the performances from both Foy and Cumberbatch are striking, especially for the latter, as David has a forbidding side to him which is very intriguing, although I don’t believe it is explored enough.
It isn’t a bad film at all, and would certainly make a riveting television drama – it’s just not substantial enough for the big-screen, certainly lacking in thrilling, or gripping moments. However, from a more technical point of view there are few flaws. It’s beautifully shot, showing off the English countryside in its full glory.
It’s also touches upon some quite distressing themes - one of which being that of posttraumatic war disorder, which Nick is suffering from when staying with his brother and wife. In that respect it is quite affecting adding an extra dimension to what is otherwise simply a reflection on a fragile relationship.
However, Junkhearts - another British production featuring at the London Film Festival, which also touches upon such a condition – has much more emotion and realism embedded into it, and as a result Nick’s issues just seems much more trivial. Although that is probably more of a reflection between the two actors, with the more experienced and highly-talented Eddie Marsan putting in a sensational performance in Junkhearts – giving the upsetting condition a more faithful portrayal than Evans managed.
I wouldn’t recommend Wreckers in regards to a trip to the cinema, but when it comes round to a television appearance, it’s certainly worth watching, as despite the occasional insipidness of the film, there certainly are unsettling and thought-provoking moments which makes the film worth seeing, although as previously mentioned – I’d wait for it to come on the telly.
