Pelican Blood review (DVD) ★★★

Review by Adam Stephen Kelly
Stars Harry Treadaway, Emma Booth, Arthur Darvill, Christopher Fulford, Ali Craig, Oona Chaplin, Emma Clifford, George Newton, John Hollingworth, Eden Watson, Babatunde Aleshe | Written by Cris Cole
UK Certification 15 | UK RRP £12.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 94 minutes | Directed by Karl Golden

Adapted for the screen by Cris Cole from the novel by Cris Freddi, Pelican Blood is director Karl Golden's debut feature. An unusual and dark Brit-flick that goes out of its way to depress with its story of life, love and death, the film is ultimately grim all the way up to its rather poetic climax, the power and effect of which is stunted by the underdeveloped plot point that said conclusion attempts to pay off.

Having survived a suicide attempt after being saved by his sister, Nikko (Treadaway) tries to get on with his life by feeding his passion for birdwatching, working as a house cleaner and enjoying the company of his friends and family. But then Stevie (Booth), his animal rights-campaigning ex-girlfriend whom he met on a suicide website, turns up and crashes the party. Soon the flame is rekindled in a very matter-of-fact way that's devoid of romance, and Nikko's impetus to end his life returns. They seem to obsess over each other, yet have a rocky relationship that largely consists of sex and talk of suicide, as if their premature, self-inflicted deaths are an inevitable part of their own personal choice of lifestyle. It's a weird relationship that begins to take over Nikko's life, much to the dismay of his friends and sister, and his seemingly careless desire for reckless abandon becomes increasingly questionable as the film progresses, and it is revealed that he in fact has so much to live for.

Rising high above the unconventional film itself is Treadaway's fantastic performance. He's terrific as the troubled young man and really adds that third dimension to his complicated, unpredictable character. He is certainly a captivating British talent to watch and this may very well be his breakthrough role.

Pelican Blood is a small and exceptionally personal film with bleak themes, often frantic camerawork and a raging contemporary soundtrack that puts it in the same vein as Trainspotting, although it falls short of being in the same league thanks to its loose ends and the occassionally uninteresting way that the story unfolds. Still, this darkly funny, atypical love story set on the strange backdrop of birdwatching is a solid effort to be enjoyed and one that has produced two very hot prospects in Treadaway and Booth.

EXTRAS ? Just a making-of feature.

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