- Release year: 2026
- Directors: Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine.
- Producers: Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine.
- Screenplay by: Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine.
- Cinematography by: Murray Zev Cohen.
- Music by: Noah Stratton-Twine.
Synopsis: a sound recordist is sent to a faraway island to record a unique sound that has never been heard before.
Shotgun Commentary: if ‘it is what it is’ were a movie.
Review
The Peril at Pincer Point is a supernatural thriller that, for all its predictability, is actually quite entertaining to watch. You might not stay for the mystery factor, but you will sure stay for sh*ts and giggles.
‘I’m looking for penis– Pincer Point’, says sound recordist Jim (Jack Redmayne) in what is the perfect example of the level of humour you should expect from this film. No lines from the feature will make it past five minutes in your head unless you write them down, which rather speaks to how mid the attempts at humour are. That being said, at least the film does not present itself as a comedy, which rather saves you the cringe and second-hand embarrassment that such an expectation would create.
Unfortunate characters
As for the story itself, it is an engaging tale that, much like Wickerman (1973), manages to be thrilling despite the inevitability of its ending. The main difference between these two works is mainly the charm of the protagonist. Where Sgt Howey was a likeable character in whose fate you could easily be invested, Jim is an elitist wannabe with more ambition than talent whose only relatable feature is his hunger for success.
Jim’s lack of redeeming qualities also ties down with the poor excuse for a parody that the film attempts when it comes to rural characters. Where Shaun of the Dead (2004) shone in its mastery of making humour out of the quirks of smalltown British folk, this film denotes a complete lack of taste when it comes to portraying rural life in the UK, rendering the townsfolk as little more than uneducated drunkards incapable of stringing two coherent sentences together.
The good and the bad
Still, one of the most remarkable elements of the movie is its elementary use of sound. Particularly after watching Undertone (2025), one would expect the use of sound design in a film about a sound recordist to be, at the very least, good enough to make you notice it from time to time. Sadly, any expectations in this regard will be swiftly turned into disappointment. Granted, it is not as painful as the sound in A Mind in Chaos (2026), but it is not nearly as good as it should be either.
Lame humour and average sound aside, the story is actually interesting, and that is in big part thanks to the editing by Stratton-Twine. The collapse of the supernatural into Jim’s reality is quite beautiful to watch. The blend of mortal and immortal planes is seamless and way more beautiful than you would expect going by the rest of the project.
All in all, The Peril at Pincer Point is an amusing film if one goes with no expectations whatsoever. It will not ruin your day, but it will not brighten it either. The story is agreeable and adequately made. A fair attempt that could have done with a few more rewrites before production.
The Peril at Pincer Point has had its European premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
But you can still catch it in London at FrightFest on the 31st of August! Find all the info HERE!
Advice to take from this movie:
- It is okay to choose your work over your life as long as you are consequent with that choice.
- In case anyone needs to hear this: not everyone in the rural UK is drunk and stupid.
- Sometimes your boss is dumb and you just have to deal with it. Life is funny that way.
What’s your take? Have you watched The Peril at Pincer Point? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀