Cherry Tree Lane

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Cherry Tree Lane

February 22nd 2011 23:57

Director Paul Andrew Williams, whose first two features, London to Brighton (2006) and The Cottage (2008), as well as providing the story for The Children (2008), have proved he is a talent to watch, now pares the nightmare element right back to its most appallingly realistic; the house invasion. Cherry Tree Lane (2010) is a low-budget exercise in the extension of jeopardy. A professional couple in their early 40s, in their North London home, having dinner, quietly snapping, then a knock at the door, and all hell breaks loose as three young thugs burst in, make the couple prisoners in their own home, causing violence and humiliation, waiting to inflict vengeance on the couple’s absent son for acting as an informer.

Cherry Tree Lane is not your typical home invasion horror fare, much closer in tone and execution to Michael Haneke’s grim and manipulative Funny Games (1997/2007) than the atmospheric fright-fest Them (2006) or its Hollywood rip-off The Strangers (2008). Writer/director Paul Andrew Williams has constructed a chamber piece filmed almost entirely in real-time (less than eighty minutes), with much of the action shot in close-up, and deliberately keeping some of the dramatic action off-screen. This is the kind of movie that will frustrate many viewers, and, not surprisingly, most of the comments on imdb.com are negative which to me indicates the younger generation who demand more action, less conversation, with splashy effects on-screen. Cherry Tree Lane rewards in different, but no less effective ways.

Rachael Blake as Christine

Christine (Aussie Rachael Blake) and her husband Michael (Tom Butcher) are not the happiest couple, with much water under the bridge, but in many ways they represent a typical middle-class, prosperous small family, with a single teenage son, Sebastian (they love who it seems is involved in no-less typical adolescent trouble. But it becomes horrifyingly clear that Sebastian (Tom Kane) has become embroiled with some serious delinquents. Christine and Michael should forget about the pot-smoking, Sebastian has kids out for his blood; armed and extremely dangerous. Rian (Jumayn Hunter) is the young leader, angry, impulsive and acne-riddled, he is a genuinely menacing figure. His two cohorts, Asad (Ashley Chin) and Teddy (Sonny Muslim), are none-too-bright, but will stick it in when required. It is Rian’s cousin who has been arrested and put in prison, and now Rian wants revenge.

Tom Butcher as Michael

While Michael spends most of the movie bound and gagged, lying face down on the living room floor, Christine is hauled off to the downstairs bedroom by Rian, no doubt to suffer his libidinous rage, off-screen. Teddy is sent off with Michael’s various credit cards to extract the maximum amount from ATMs, while Asad holds fort in the living room. Three others arrive; Rian’s girlfriend Beth (Jennie Jacques), with her kid brother Oscar (Kieran Dooner) and her friend Charman (Corinne Douglas) in tow. As if the scene isn’t already disturbing, it becomes that much more so with the presence of even younger associates. Oscar is sent to the kitchen in a tenuous attempt by his older sister to protect his sensibilities. Surely no good can come from any of this.

Cherry Tree Lane Sonny Muslim, Ashley Chin, Tom Butcher, Jumayn Hunter, Rachael Blake

Teddy (Sonny Muslim), Asad (Ashley Chin) and Rian (Jumayn Hunter) incapacitate Michael and Christine

Cherry Tree Lane Rachael Blake and Jumayn Hunter

The excellent performances from the entire cast, Williams’ tight mise-en-scene, and, thankfully, a satisfyingly dark and cathartic denouement make Cherry Tree Lane a must see for those wanting their “Sunday Playhouse” given the intense domestic nightmare treatment. This is a very realistic depiction of a frightening reality and the dissolute, criminal, contemporary youth is portrayed with no room for redemption, their arrogance and ignorance blindingly clear, yet disturbingly authentic.

There will be tears before bedtime, oh yes indeed, and there will be blood.

Here’s the trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

3 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Matt Shea

February 23rd 2011 00:23

This does indeed sound awesome, Bryn. Looking forward to checking it out.

Comment by David O'Connell

February 23rd 2011 02:46

20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic

Rachael Blake lives in England now?? Didn't know that, she's an excellent actress.

Great to see you give this the thumbs up Bryn, like you I rate Williams very highly. London to Brighton was brilliant and really got a few perverse kicks out of the sadistic The Cottage too.