Sightseers

(Ben Wheatley/2012/UK)

Like Mike Leigh’s Nuts in May Wheatley’s Sightseers focuses on a pair of mild mannered, outdoorsy types with a compulsive desire for due process and properness. But Wheatley’s Chris and Tina are infused with much more latent psychosis leading to murderous violence than the suppressed, mildly aggressive frustrations of Leigh’s Keith and Candice Marie. As Chris and Tina make their way across the British countryside and bodies pile up we see a complicity and unspoken relish in their actions develop. Situations are created whereby the only feasible solution is, obviously, murder. However there is one brilliant and hilarious twist to it all in the end. Sightseers is immensely entertaining with a downplayed, dead pan style of comedy that suits the story perfectly. The leading couple, Steve Oram and Alice Lowe are cracking and bounce off each other brilliantly. One of those quintessentially British comedies just with a dark, black heart of humour.

(3.5/5)