Review of Heartless (2010) by Grey G — 15 Nov 2011

Heartless crosses the void between mystery and the psychological, allowing our senses to expand all the more. Jamie (Jim Sturgess), an outcast in his London city, is plagued with a disfiguring birthmark on his face leading to parts of his body.

He notices strange happenings around his working-class city, hoodlums that are not what they seem. After the murder of his mother, he recieves a call from an unknown person, leading him to an apartment complex where his deceased father grew up.

There he strikes a Faustian deal for a "normal life", in exchange for a crime specifically suited for him. But, of course, it backfires and everyone knows when you make a deal with the Devil, there is a catch.

Heartless is a photographers dream, filled with dark rich set pieces and a brooding ambience. Jim Sturgess is a great independent actor and musician, incorporating his voice into the soundtrack as well, so it was no surpirse how he carried Jamie throughout the film.

He does exceptionally well in a scene where he has to do a live human sacrifice on a rather colorful character. Director Philip Ridley shows the audience he still has his bag of tricks and after a fourteen-year hiatus, he should really consider about sticking around a little longer.