To summarise watching this film succinctly, prepare for a lot of head-shaking and sighing.
That's nothing to do with the production- in fact, it's remarkably stylish on such a small budget- but everything our characters do simply fall into the frustrating category of 'I wish I'd done that differently...'
But that's what makes the film achieve so much with so little resources. Understated credit where understated credit is due. Timelock, the directorial debut of Bafta-nominated producer David Griffith, proves that you don't need a big budget to create a tense world. If anything, the intimacy adds to the danger our hero (heroes?) are in.
The lead cast are a pleasant surprise as well. John C. Gilmour's subtle approach to Mark is a nice touch and it's no surprise Alton Milne is drawing comparisons to Ewan McGregor with a hint of James McAvoy.
Perhaps the favourite part of the feature for me was the set-up of the CCTV cameras around the hotel building. The attention to temporal-spatial awareness adds to the realistic feel of the dark drama, traversing through often empty corridors and opening doors that, for our characters, would be best untouched.
Although, it must be admitted, Timelock isn't for everyone. If you're used to quirky CGI and special effects, this really isn't for you. But for those with ambitions to enter the industry this is a lesson on what's important to successful film-making.
That's nothing to do with the production- in fact, it's remarkably stylish on such a small budget- but everything our characters do simply fall into the frustrating category of 'I wish I'd done that differently...'
But that's what makes the film achieve so much with so little resources. Understated credit where understated credit is due. Timelock, the directorial debut of Bafta-nominated producer David Griffith, proves that you don't need a big budget to create a tense world. If anything, the intimacy adds to the danger our hero (heroes?) are in.
The lead cast are a pleasant surprise as well. John C. Gilmour's subtle approach to Mark is a nice touch and it's no surprise Alton Milne is drawing comparisons to Ewan McGregor with a hint of James McAvoy.
Perhaps the favourite part of the feature for me was the set-up of the CCTV cameras around the hotel building. The attention to temporal-spatial awareness adds to the realistic feel of the dark drama, traversing through often empty corridors and opening doors that, for our characters, would be best untouched.
Although, it must be admitted, Timelock isn't for everyone. If you're used to quirky CGI and special effects, this really isn't for you. But for those with ambitions to enter the industry this is a lesson on what's important to successful film-making.