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Jetsam

7/10

Stars: Alex Reid, Jamie Draven, Shauna Macdonald, Cal Macaninch, Adam Shaw

Director: Simon Welsford

Although the non-linear storytelling is inclined to put your back up in this ingenious little thriller, it's there for a purpose. And it's difficult to comment further on the device for fear of giving away any of the plot twists in this movie, a good calling card for its youngish director.

Suffice to say that: a girl, Rachel (Reid), is washed ashore off the Kent coast. A man (Draven) is also washed ashore, but when she reaches him, he revives and attacks her. What is going on?

It would appear that Rachel has been co-habiting with a scientist (Macaninch) for the purpose of stealing his ideas for her partner (Draven), who will sell them to the highest bidder. But there's also the story of a government spy watching Macaninch and his girlfriend, who fatally identifies with her quarry after the latter swallows a tiny microphone which enables authorities to hear everything she and her partner say.

If you find this confusing while watching it, then you're not paying attention, as the whole idea of Welsford's clever little story is to keep you on your toes. It looks very cheaply made (it was) and it's a little slow for an 84-minute film. But you've seen a lot, lot worse made for thousands of times the money.

David Quinlan

UK 2007. UK Distributor: Jinga Films. Fujicolor.
84 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 2.

Review date: 22 Aug 2009