Kidnap Me (2017)

A couple book a role play kidnap experience, only to get nabbed by a pair of dimwitted gangsters.

Directors:

Ross Aitken (co-director), James Browning (co-director)

Writers:

Ross Aitken, James Browning

Stars:

Daniel Curshen, Genna Foden, Ross F. Sutherland

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Daniel Curshen	...	Ben
Genna Foden	...	Charlie
Ross F. Sutherland	...	Bert
Ray Whelan	...	Ernie
Tom Bonington	...	The Boss
Carl Russell	...	Ben's Boss
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lisa Coward	...	Malcolm's Wife
Marie Everett	...	Michelle
Steven Mortimer	...	Henry
Jodyanne Richardson	...	Jasmine

Storyline

Ben and Charlie are stuck in a rut: He likes the quiet life and she'll do anything to close a deal. Their efforts to stay together take them from swingers parties to dogging parks but not even spanking will do the trick. So what do they do? Ben has one last roll of the dice, and he books a luxury kidnap experience for Charlie's birthday. Picked up, trussed up and taken hostage as planned, the two settle in for a night of latex, spandex and Durex. But who are these amateurs in balaclavas? What's that smell? And why the hell won't they get with the spanking?

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Plot Keywords:

tied to chair | swingers party | swingers | open marriage | swinger couple | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

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User Reviews

A classically modern British comedy

Despite the average score this is an easy film to watch and one that I very definitely enjoyed.

The plot is simple but even the elements that are predictable have a unique feel. Most interesting is that the viewer is allowed far more information than the people in the film can know yet never given enough to predict more than broad plot movements.

More relevantly, and one of the film's two strongest elements, is that the characters in the film feel very true to themselves. They react as you'd expect them to react, and even when revealing a new element to their character it aligns to what we know already rather than conflicting or feeling contrived.

Sadly the characters to whom that doesn't apply are two key elements of the latter half of the film, which did detract from it.

The writers do however redeem themselves with a succession of one-liners, often dry observations delivered deadpan that made me laugh because of their context or their wit. This is very British humour and made the whole film worthwhile.

The film felt exceedingly low budget, with the lighting, coverage and sets all bare bones - but also all entirely adequate, serviceable and authentic (within context). The lack of budget did however come across in the preparation and filming of the few action scenes, all of which were poor. Rather than choreography and acting that matched the sardonic realism of the rest of the film they fell into a weak pastiche of slapstick, both failing at that but also entirely out of kilter with the rest of the film.

It's a shame, as it let down what could otherwise have been a good film. Watch it anyway, the writing deserves that and there is much to enjoy.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Website

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 2020 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kidnap Me

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ikonic Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1