With equally charismatic performances from Leo Horsfield and Simon Weir, the strength of this film lies in the rich dialogue and storytelling, something many brit flicks avoid, which is what makes this movie so appealing and unique.
Like the main character Justin, this story take you out of your comfort zone as it drops us into the seedy, underbelly of Edinburgh's barely legitimate 'sauna' trade.
Despite the films' title, there's surprisingly little gratuitous sex or violent content but it's the fleeting glimpses and hints of them which actually make it seem more realistic, grim and it's certainly a refreshing change. That's not to say there is a lack of juicy content, there's plenty eye Candy (Big Agnes!) and just out of shot action to make you squirm with delight and the low budget feel definitely adds to the grittiness of it all rather than detract.
Highlights are the endearing, and unpredictable Uncle Rab's gripping, animated anecdotes and the genuine laugh out loud moments from this motley crew, as the drama unfolds, particularly from the character 'Curry Tom.' There's familiar warmth from the character Uncle Rab (played brilliantly by Simon Weir), his overly friendly peers and our cringing sympathy for naive and conscientious Justin. It's this, combined with the underlying sinister factors (including the vulnerability of some of the prostitutes and Rab's even less legal ventures) which creates a heady mix of anticipation served with relieved, relaxed laugher. The ruthless brothel manager Leo (played with sinister intensity by Leo Horsfield) reminds us of the darker side of the industry and the characters ongoing lives. Manipulative, sly and violent, he rules by intimidation and his brooding presence is felt throughout until the film reaches its unsettling but somewhat satisfying climax.
With an upbeat, simple, one track musical score repeated throughout there's also some beautifully shot scenes of Edinburgh, always a comfort to anyone who is familiar with this amazing city. A nice extra is the entertaining end credits, Thallon keenly keeping you gripped right up until the end!
By far the strongest performances come from the talented and charismatic Horsfield and Weir, two faces which we should expect to be seeing more of in the future.
To sum up, it's dark, it's comical and it's definitely the type of film that you can watch over and get something new from it every time, particularly if you don't quite pick up all the Scottish dialect the first time. If you want an original, funny, honest and atmospheric Scottish movie then this is the one for you. If you want the stereotypical, twee Brit-flick fluff then probably not so much, but as it's such a unique venture it's worth a watch either way.
As a limited release Indie film (I tracked the DVD down through facebook) it's no surprise that it's a shamefully under praised wee gem of a movie!
Like the main character Justin, this story take you out of your comfort zone as it drops us into the seedy, underbelly of Edinburgh's barely legitimate 'sauna' trade.
Despite the films' title, there's surprisingly little gratuitous sex or violent content but it's the fleeting glimpses and hints of them which actually make it seem more realistic, grim and it's certainly a refreshing change. That's not to say there is a lack of juicy content, there's plenty eye Candy (Big Agnes!) and just out of shot action to make you squirm with delight and the low budget feel definitely adds to the grittiness of it all rather than detract.
Highlights are the endearing, and unpredictable Uncle Rab's gripping, animated anecdotes and the genuine laugh out loud moments from this motley crew, as the drama unfolds, particularly from the character 'Curry Tom.' There's familiar warmth from the character Uncle Rab (played brilliantly by Simon Weir), his overly friendly peers and our cringing sympathy for naive and conscientious Justin. It's this, combined with the underlying sinister factors (including the vulnerability of some of the prostitutes and Rab's even less legal ventures) which creates a heady mix of anticipation served with relieved, relaxed laugher. The ruthless brothel manager Leo (played with sinister intensity by Leo Horsfield) reminds us of the darker side of the industry and the characters ongoing lives. Manipulative, sly and violent, he rules by intimidation and his brooding presence is felt throughout until the film reaches its unsettling but somewhat satisfying climax.
With an upbeat, simple, one track musical score repeated throughout there's also some beautifully shot scenes of Edinburgh, always a comfort to anyone who is familiar with this amazing city. A nice extra is the entertaining end credits, Thallon keenly keeping you gripped right up until the end!
By far the strongest performances come from the talented and charismatic Horsfield and Weir, two faces which we should expect to be seeing more of in the future.
To sum up, it's dark, it's comical and it's definitely the type of film that you can watch over and get something new from it every time, particularly if you don't quite pick up all the Scottish dialect the first time. If you want an original, funny, honest and atmospheric Scottish movie then this is the one for you. If you want the stereotypical, twee Brit-flick fluff then probably not so much, but as it's such a unique venture it's worth a watch either way.
As a limited release Indie film (I tracked the DVD down through facebook) it's no surprise that it's a shamefully under praised wee gem of a movie!