Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Emily Beecham | ... | Alice | |
Ben Whishaw | ... | Chris | |
Kerry Fox | ... | Bella | |
Kit Connor | ... | Joe | |
David Wilmot | ... | Karl | |
Phénix Brossard | ... | Ric | |
Sebastian Hülk | ... | Ivan | |
Lindsay Duncan | ... | Psychotherapist | |
![]() |
Jessie Mae Alonzo | ... | Selma (as Jessie-Mae Alonzo) |
Andrew Rajan | ... | Jasper | |
![]() |
Marie Noel | ... | Colleague 3 (as Marie Noel Ntwa Ydjumbwiths) |
Goran Kostic | ... | Mr. Simic | |
Yana Yanezic | ... | Mrs. Simic | |
Leanne Best | ... | Mother | |
![]() |
Phoebe Austin | ... | Girl |
Alice, a single mother, is a dedicated senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species. She has engineered a very special crimson flower, remarkable not only for its beauty but also for its therapeutic value: if kept at the ideal temperature, fed properly and spoken to regularly, this plant makes its owner happy. Against company policy, Alice takes one home as a gift for her teenage son, Joe. They christen it 'Little Joe' but as it grows, so too does Alice's suspicion that her new creations may not be as harmless as their nickname suggests.
So it's a modern day take on an old sci-fi classic, with a slight twist, fine we understand that quick enough. However, it fails in direction completely, cold acting with warm and pastal colours is just a cliche. The lead actor centre stage and holding the shot whilst (kabuki) music plays (clearly thinks it has something to do with ikebana) gives an ominous feel, REALLY. You care nothing for the characters, why should you, that's the premise of the film. As for the soundtrack, well it is very annoying, a drum here, an asthmatic whistle there, a tin can, what sounds like a box of chihuahua's, just annoys the viewer. The style, it tries but falls flat, the plant is shown in vivid pink, alluding to the passion it feels, the lead actor originally wears bold colours but then the pastoral colours come in later, why they have to wear 70's clothing to allow this when the rest of the film is clearly in the here and now god knows. A typical critics film from a director who believes their own hype finding what they need to find in films as their own lives are one dimensional and so far from a real film goer. Don't even start on the dialogue. A ten minute short would give you a better experience.