Review of A Field in England (2013) by Stephen C — 07 Jul 2013

It is exciting when a film company such as Film Four here takes a big risk on a small scale film and releases it across all formats on its first day of opening, giving the viewer the chance to see it on both the big and small screens.

It also helps when the director of the film is one of the rising stars of British film Ben Wheatley who is fast becoming a director to watch.

The premise is odd as three men escape from the heat of a batlle which we never see during the English civil war.

They are approached by a fourth who promises them an ale house at the end of a large open field.

The men are then drugged by the stranger apart from Whitehead played to perfection by Reece Shearsmith who is tasked with tracking down the Mysterious O Neil and alchemist who has stolen papers from Whiteheads master.

It turns out that O Neil is in the same field looking for a hidden treasure.

What follows is a cross between Witchfinder General and El Topo as The mushrooms kick in and various bizzarre images are flashed before us on the screen.

It would be easy just to say it doesnt make much sense but after you have watched the film it lingers long in your memory with its stunning visuals and soundtrack.

The film is not for all tastes but I suspect Wheatley wasnt aiming for commericial success ,he just wanted to make a film which poses more questions than it answers.

The cast are all great but Shearsmith and Smiley are the best value here.

And the release platform is a great idea and one hopes Film Four carry on shwoing smaller film like this giving them a voice to make statements like this one.