Hush (2008)
Written by Nikki Baughan Sunday, 12 July 2009 20:03
DVD
Road to hell...
Bit part actor, sometime screenwriter and former Radio 1 DJ Mark Tonderai makes his directorial debut with the small but well-formed British thriller Hush, which makes a routine trip on the M1 even more hellish than usual. Tonderai also wrote the film, which sees wannabe-writer Zakes (William Ash) and his girlfriend Beth (Christine Bottomley) passing their long night-time journey by arguing about the state of their relationship.
Hush’s initial strength lies in it’s ‘horror of the normal’ aesthetic; under DoP Philipp Blaubach’s shadowy camera everyday locations – motorways, slip-roads, service stations – become menacing places where there is considerably more evil lurking than just a £5 cup of weak coffee. This creepy atmosphere permeates the whole film, and believable leading man Ash fits well within it, playing Zakes with a mixture of cocky disbelief, resolute responsibility and genuine terror as he realises exactly what he’s stumbled into.
And as the story plays out, with some interesting, twists and turns along the way, there are moments that require maximum suspension of disbelief, as Zakes makes one wild decision after another. But the fast-paced editing, emotive score and genuinely scary look at the UK’s secret underbelly keep the story moving forward at a breathless pace, and Hush becomes a tight little thriller that waves the flag for British horror. 4 stars
Extra Features
Tonderai provides a commentary, plus there's interviews, deleted scenes and making of featurettes. 3 stars
ROLL CREDITS...
Stars William Ash, Christine Bottomley
Director Mark Tonderai
Distributor Optimum Home Entertainment
Format DVD & Blu-ray
Released July 20









