An adrenaline charged tale of teenage hedonism that cascades around a game of Spin the Bottle.
Writer/Director: Cath Le Couteur
Genre: Short movie
Country: UK
Year: 2002
Stars: Julian Morris, Ryan Dabner and Bronson Webb
At a raucous house party, the teenagers drink, dance and mess around. Eventually they start to play spin the bottle – but one doesn’t want to play. When they force him to take a turn, the bottle lands on his mate – for a laugh the two head upstairs to loud laughter. The plan to spend a few moments before heading back downstairs, but once in the room they share a tender moment together.
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This short seems to look at sexuality and the confused relationships of teenagers when they are really only supposed to be rowdy with their mates – not thoughtful or sensitive. The film puts this basic premise across quite well in the party scenes where the majority are snogging, drinking, shouting or just looking for a bit of a fight, but one is noticeably unsure of himself. However where the two boys go to the bathroom it seemed to be making another point but it didn’t do enough to make it clear and meaningful.
The characters of the two boys involved were not really expanded enough to be involving – certainly the more confident of the two was a mystery to me, and yet he was the more interesting one. It’s a shame because I really enjoyed this short but found the second half of the film opened it up without really doing enough to support it; although it is still interesting and a snapshot of teenage pressures and confusions (albeit in a very specific form).
The direction is very impressive – especially in some particular moments of style! Generally the motion of the camera etc captures the energy of the party, but it also does some really clever things like having the camera `inside’ the bottle and, my favourite, having the camera following the electric cars – those things are pretty dull but the direction made these toys feel very fast and exciting, plus it was a good shot.
The cast are all pretty good, even if the majority of them are just playing teenage stereotypes that may or may not be close to their own lives. The two lead boys are both good even if the quiet one is maybe a bit too obvious and the more confident one is lacking a clarity to the audience in regards who he is. The most important thing though, is that all of them, big or small roles, feel natural.
Overall this is an energetic and enjoyable short about teenage confusion and pressure. Some of the material may not do enough expansion to support the actions in the plot, but it still works on a basic level and the flaws can be forgiven. The slick direction only helps to capture the atmosphere pretty much spot on.
