RAGE Review | Film Review

A man’s heavy drinking and drug abuse lead to devastating consequences.

Alex Evans who is played by Actor & Producer Gary Wales is a married man and has a son played by Bailey Penman, son of Producer David Penman. One night, he and his wife Courtney played by Actor Lara Fullerton go to a pub and things end up going downhill. Alex drinks a lot and secretly takes drugs, becoming aggressive and out of control. Eventually, the couple returns home, where things go horribly wrong.

This short film is a hard-hitting thriller that pulls no punches when it comes to showing the terrible results that alcoholism and substance abuse leads to. While under the influence of drugs and alcohol, Alex turns into a vile person, resorting to violence, swearing, and shouting. The scenes of violence are very distressing and it is his wife and son who become victims of his actions. The screenplay also explores how Alex himself becomes a victim of his own deeds and it is equally upsetting to watch. The narrative begins with calmness and normality and gradually the signs that indicate that Alex is an unstable man appear. The atmosphere becomes tenser and tenser until things finally reach the abyss.

Wales’s performance is vital in order for the film to deliver its messages. He dramatically and powerfully portrays an individual who is battling substance addictions and is on the edge. When he reaches breaking point, he is terrifying and when he is forced to deal with the consequences, he is pitiful. Fullerton and Penman are great as the innocent ones who become targets of Alex’s aggression.

Alfie Marsh develops wonderful cinematography and there are creative lighting techniques. The filmmakers make effective use of fisheye techniques and the music by David Campbell is tense and dramatic.

This viewing is quite unpleasant, however, it deserves significant praise and recognition because it raises awareness of domestic violence and substance abuse and it portrays the acts and the consequences very directly. It provides a heartbreaking and memorable experience with important messages.