My quick rating - 4.0/10. Going into this flick without any prior knowledge felt like a gamble, but unfortunately, it didn't quite pay off. The film centers on Piers Stonesmith (Tom Butcher), a right-wing politician pushing his "Keep Britain British" agenda, who gathers six strangers on the eve of his election to unlock the secrets of a wish-granting box. A great deal of the focus is on the politician's make up woman played by Eva Best and how she tries to keep everything under control in a situation she absolutely has no grasp of. The film’s core plot—a spin on the “genie in a bottle” tale with a twist that wishes come with consequences—had the potential to be interesting but ultimately fell flat. The pacing is one of its biggest weaknesses. It drags too often, and there's far too little explanation about the box itself. While a sense of mystery is clearly intended, the film fails to generate enough intrigue around the box’s nature or its impact to make me care. The story events surrounding it don’t provide enough depth or engagement to maintain tension, so scenes that should feel suspenseful or dramatic end up lackluster. What little entertainment the indie film provides is overshadowed by poor execution, though it’s saved slightly by a satisfying conclusion. The wrap-up helps alleviate the frustration built up by the plodding middle section. However, with more care in pacing and fleshing out the characters and stakes, it could have been a more impactful film. Overall, it had promise but missed the mark in execution. My rating feels fair, largely for that conclusive ending. Without it, the score would have likely dipped lower.
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