Human no More uses a unique structure in order to scratch beneath the surface of its protagonists' fears and complacency. It incorporates writer-director Chris Broadstone's three short films Scream for Me, My Skin & the original 2004 Human no More, to create a chamber drama of nested flashbacks which fatefully bring together Detective Demo (Tony Simmons) and Mr Blight (Gabriel Sigal). Far from a "wraparound" narrative, the film's main section weaves, between past and present, truth and fiction, to resolve a mystery with beguiling subtlety. Nemo and Blight's collision will result in a tragedy, in which the movie breaks an absolute cinematic taboo. This tragedy, however, will be crucial in Nemo & Blight both achieving higher states of being, of grace and of wrath, asking questions of its characters too complex to be resolved in just one film, and perhaps being open to a further exploration (Broadstone is working on an 'HNM' sequel). Although Broadstone uses a minimalist setting, the 'Homo Amphibious Burlesque' bar in which Nemo & Blight collide verbally, in an almost Pinteresque manner is vividly visualised, with "mise en scene" evoking past horrors and disturbed states of mind. The film also benefits a stirring score from Stewart Eastham which feels like it was purpose built to underscore precise emotional beats.
Review of Human No More: The Feature
