Post 34a: Magazine Review

My Magazine Film Review  

The director brings yet another remarkable short film to the screens, Dead End. This prominent drama film, influenced by crime, conflict and romance, is filled with exhilarating action, which draws the audience in.  Starring faces, including Ben Howard and Liam McGuigan who are revealed within the short, the actor Liam McGuigan as constable Mike, although only on screen for a short period of time, overpowered the main protagonist and took center stage. The actor was well suited to his role and accurately portrayed his character. The relation and link between the police officer and the teen is unexpected and discreetly revealed in the end of the film, by a short significant shot of a photograph, exposing the harsh and dramatic reality of the story.

This unexpected film about the troubled teenager, Josh Miller, faces difficult dilemmas and situations throughout this five minute short film. The twist that his father is killed due to knife crime and Josh’s behavior mirroring the crime that took his fathers life, dramatizes the events within the short. As the Director follows the grieving process that the distressed teenager goes through, the audience is made aware of the rebellious behavior. Also significant to note that the character was once an influential figure, with awards and trophies which are established in the opening sequence of the short. Ben Howard as Josh Miller, although relatively new to our screens didn’t let the complex story overshadow his outstanding portrayal of a troubled, rebellious teenager and an emotional fatherless son.

The theme of knife crime is evident, but it is never really noted what the teen does with the knife to win the gangs respect, which creates a tense, secretive occurrence as the audience will never know. The dangers of knife crime are made evident and could be seen to educate the audience in some matters of speech.  But the sense of resolution is portrayed at the end which develops the characters background and growth, It could also be suggested that resolution is found through the influence and connection between the female character Amy played by Fiona Aldwin who is portrayed to develop more than a friendship with the protagonist Josh, which the director has shown through a short montage. 

It is impressive how the director has managed to fit such a diverse and busy story line into such a short amount of time, using effective film techniques, such as montages to portray the story and develop the characters friendships. The story takes you on an emotional roller coaster, with the dramatic climax revealed to the audience at the end of the short film.  It would be argued that the film is filled with Intensity and drama but just lacks individuality. Others would say that the short film is over rated as most would be able to take an evaluated guess of what happens in the end, But the twist is revealed in the end through a significant photograph, which is effective, original and unexpected, which makes the short film Dead End successful.