Review of Sightseers (2012) by David B — 26 Sep 2013

Equally funny as it is horrific.,It might seem to start that Wheatley has lightened after his venture into darkness with his horrific second feature Kill List.. Once again the director shows a deft touch for putting a magnifying glass over ordinary British life and injects far more humour into his third film than previously but the comedy never defuses the horror when it comes.. With a screenplay provided by stars Steve Osram and Alice Lowe assisted by Wheatley's Wife and Kill List collaborator Amy Jump..

Wheatley equally proficient in lensing the character moments and humour as well as making the horror distinctively bleak and realistic never playing violent acts for comedy value aided by some impressive gory special effects, shocking the viewer rather than eliciting laughs.

Coming over like Mike Leigh directing Natural Born Killers, both Lowe and Osram as newly met couple Tina and Chris are ordinary but horrific versions of Mickey and Mallory devoid of the glamour and celebrity. With Osram seemingly the monster of the proceedings but exposure to her new partner, Tina emerges as an equally terrifying proposition and her actions drive the final segment of the film to it's surprising conclusion.

Jim Williams once again for Wheatley provides an atmospheric score and a rather eerie cover of Donovan's "Season of The Witch" is used to devastating effect. The sound design again is sickening in the key scenes and Laurie Rose's cinematography showcases the gorgeous English countryside, while using real life attractions like the Crich Tramway Village or the Pencil Museum, the film may well emerge as an enticing tourist incentive.

A Hugely funny and shocking British film, Wheatley continues to impress and is becoming one of the biggest talents to emerge in the UK for sometime, thoroughly recommended.