Peripheral (2018)

Bobbi Johnson is a young literary sensation facing her difficult second novel. Already dealing with a crazed stalker and her junkie ex-boyfriend, Bobbi is convinced by her publisher to use ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Hyett

Writer:

Dan Schaffer

Stars:

Hannah Arterton, Tom Conti, Rosie Day

Cast

Credited cast:
Hannah Arterton	...	Bobbi Johnson
Tom Conti	...	Gilmore Trent
Rosie Day	...	Shelly
Jenny Seagrove	...	Merlock
Elliot James Langridge	...	Dylan
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Connor Byrne	...	Installer
Belinda Stewart-Wilson	...	Jordan

Storyline

Bobbi Johnson is a young literary sensation facing her difficult second novel. Already dealing with a crazed stalker and her junkie ex-boyfriend, Bobbi is convinced by her publisher to use new smart editing software and finds herself going head-to-head with an artificial intelligence determined to write her book for her. As the machine manipulates her work to suit its own nefarious ends, Bobbi begins to realise that she is being controlled in ways far more sinister than she suspected. She may, in fact, be a pawn in a conspiracy of social mind control. Too far down the rabbit hole to turn back, Bobbi must keep writing, fighting her own addictions and hallucinations as she rushes to beat her deadline without selling her soul in the process and becoming a cog in a monstrous machine.

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Taglines:

A young writer battles the intelligent software designed to help her write her new book and stumbles upon a conspiracy of social control.

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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User Reviews

If The Asylum had to make an episode of Black Mirror - AVOID

Other than the cast and some snippets of good music the whole film is junk. It didn't need to be feature length. The use of technology was way over the top, yet primitive in execution. Imagine using a see-through 50" TV with bright blue lights to write a novel in the dark....and use a touch screen keyboard with keys the size of chicken nuggets - which numpty approved that?

The story is about a young introverted author who had success with her first book. It caused some sort of "revolution". However for some reason she has no money to pay for electricity so agrees a deal with her publisher to write a second book if they pay her bills, the deal also comes with a few caveats...she must use their "hardware" to write the book, instead of her trusty typewriter. The hardware is boosted with AI to aid her writing and for thr publisher to keep tabs on her progress. There's also a side story with Rosie Day (interesting voice) who steals the scenes she's in, it's a shame that was part of the film was so small.

The VFX and CG was overused and over the top - there really was no need to go so sci-fi with the "hardware" and have a stupid webcam with red lights. It was like watching an episode of BBC Three's Snog, Marry, Avoid fused with Black Mirror, made by The Asylum.

No idea how this film was funded, although it didn't need much of a budget, they could have skipped the terrible VFX/UI work and given that cash to charity. The message they tried to drive home was hamfisted and pretentious drivle.

I feel bad for the cast as they did their parts well and will forever have this film on their resume... the story and execution of the film was just bad. Not an enjoyable film you'll ever tell anyone to watch, unless you hated them.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 2020 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Peripheral The Movie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Color:

Color