A young women discovers more than she expected when she goes to live with her boyfriend on a bleak Cornwall caravan park as the season closes. Conjuring an array of potential outcomes from the off, it's left to the viewer to fill in the gaps and provide the explanations for their meaning as the haunting, occasionally claustrophobic and suffocating sequences play out - for real or imagined. Ultimately a voyage of discovery, that stays in the shallows, doesn't sail too far from the coastline, narrating a familiar tale but done so in an imaginative way.
41 Reviews
Cornwall by the sea.
Pjtaylor-96-1380446 November 2020
'Make Up (2019)' follows a young woman who moves to a caravan park in Cornwall in order to be with her long-term boyfriend. As she adjusts to her new life, she finds herself increasingly unsettled by a mysterious redhead and the gnawing feeling that something just isn't right. The piece is a small, isolated experience that focuses on putting you in the perspective of its quiet main character. Its story is a blend of the overtly mundane and the subtly bizarre. As such, its genre is difficult to define. It really is an odd one, a relationship drama infused with often genuinely unsettling suspense - the stuff that belongs in a straight-up horror. That contrast creates an uneven experience that often feels like it doesn't quite know what it wants to be. That's actually rather fitting in retrospect, as uncertainty is a major theme of the movie, but it makes for an inconsistent in-the-moment experience. On top of that, the affair sometimes borders on being dull. It gets increasingly interesting as it goes on, though, and it does a good job of putting you in the head of its protagonist. It often succeeds in getting under your skin, featuring several disquieting scenes that almost put actual horror films to shame. Once you realise what it's doing (and has been doing all along), it becomes a lot more interesting. It explores its themes in a rather innovative way, subtly and slowly unravelling its material. It isn't exactly exciting but it is often engaging. It's a solid and unconventional first-time effort. 6/10
Very watchable - but does not fit easily into any genre
euroGary3 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The viewer may find himself confused as to what kind of film 'Make Up' is supposed to be: is it aiming to be kitchen sink drama, will-they-won't-they lesbian romance, or even supernatural mystery?
Eighteen year-old Ruth (Molly Windsor) arrives at a windswept Cornish static caravan park at the end of the holiday season to spend some time with her boyfriend Tom (Joseph Quinn, who like Windsor and most of the cast is familiar from numerous British television appearances). Although the young couple are initially very loved-up, almost immediately things start to go wrong as Ruth is assailed by mysteries: to whom does the long red hair she finds on Tom's clothes belong? (Someone who is seriously moulting, judging by the amount of long red hairs Ruth finds in various places around the park). Is it the same woman with the blood-red fingernails whose face is so often just out of sight? And who is living in the sealed-off caravan? Then there is Jade (Stefanie Martini), the free-spirited chalet maid: what are her intentions towards Ruth?
This is a very atmospheric film: the caravan park, shot in washed-out colours and lashed by the weather, is a marvellous setting for this sort of character-driven drama (although it will do little for Cornwall's tourism industry). And although the story leaves many questions unanswered and may even leave you with a sense of "what was the point of that?!", I found it engrossing.
As for the acting, Windsor gives a good naturalistic performance as a young woman with little ambition confronting unexpected situations, and Martini is suitably enticing in the personality she gives to Jade (and - apologies for shallowness - in looks). Most entertaining, though, is Lisa Palfrey as the park's batty manager, making the most of lines like "When I learned to swim, I was no longer afraid of dogs". (Actually, that line - delivered at the beginning of the film - is a bit of dramatic foreshadowing, as it turns out that when Ruth learns to swim, she is no longer afraid of lesbians! Funny how things work out...)
Eighteen year-old Ruth (Molly Windsor) arrives at a windswept Cornish static caravan park at the end of the holiday season to spend some time with her boyfriend Tom (Joseph Quinn, who like Windsor and most of the cast is familiar from numerous British television appearances). Although the young couple are initially very loved-up, almost immediately things start to go wrong as Ruth is assailed by mysteries: to whom does the long red hair she finds on Tom's clothes belong? (Someone who is seriously moulting, judging by the amount of long red hairs Ruth finds in various places around the park). Is it the same woman with the blood-red fingernails whose face is so often just out of sight? And who is living in the sealed-off caravan? Then there is Jade (Stefanie Martini), the free-spirited chalet maid: what are her intentions towards Ruth?
This is a very atmospheric film: the caravan park, shot in washed-out colours and lashed by the weather, is a marvellous setting for this sort of character-driven drama (although it will do little for Cornwall's tourism industry). And although the story leaves many questions unanswered and may even leave you with a sense of "what was the point of that?!", I found it engrossing.
As for the acting, Windsor gives a good naturalistic performance as a young woman with little ambition confronting unexpected situations, and Martini is suitably enticing in the personality she gives to Jade (and - apologies for shallowness - in looks). Most entertaining, though, is Lisa Palfrey as the park's batty manager, making the most of lines like "When I learned to swim, I was no longer afraid of dogs". (Actually, that line - delivered at the beginning of the film - is a bit of dramatic foreshadowing, as it turns out that when Ruth learns to swim, she is no longer afraid of lesbians! Funny how things work out...)
Hints of a Daphne du Maurier mystery in a modern day low budget British suspense film
tonypeacock-122 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Neat British drama, I wouldn't class as your normal Loachian kitchen sink locale. The drama takes place in a Cornwall caravan park.
The film reminded me of a Cornwall based Daphne du Maurier mystery with its location (obviously) and the psychological drama.
The film explores the sexual relationship between a young couple Ruth (Molly Windsor) and Tom (Joseph Quinn).
When I think back to this viewing one word comes to mind, suspicion. At first Ruth is suspicious of a possible affair situation with Tom.
She discovers hair in the bedding. Not hers or Tom's.
As the film develops the suspicion angle switches 360 degrees as Tom suspects Ruth has other loves.
Director Claire Oakley brings a suspenseful drama with hints of other types of film with use of haunting location photography, lighting effects and character development.
Is Ruth imagining things in her relationships?
The film reminded me of a Cornwall based Daphne du Maurier mystery with its location (obviously) and the psychological drama.
The film explores the sexual relationship between a young couple Ruth (Molly Windsor) and Tom (Joseph Quinn).
When I think back to this viewing one word comes to mind, suspicion. At first Ruth is suspicious of a possible affair situation with Tom.
She discovers hair in the bedding. Not hers or Tom's.
As the film develops the suspicion angle switches 360 degrees as Tom suspects Ruth has other loves.
Director Claire Oakley brings a suspenseful drama with hints of other types of film with use of haunting location photography, lighting effects and character development.
Is Ruth imagining things in her relationships?
Good Movie for the Right Audience
evelynrae10 February 2021
Most viewers may not like the slow pace and sparse dialogue but I thought overall it was quite effective in telling a good story. I'm a fan of Eric Roehmer. The slow everyday-pace set a tone of mystery. The young woman is trying to figure out what's going on as are we. I hope to see more from the director-writer. The lead actress is exceptional.
The lead character is really tedious and this drags down the film
terryinspirer8 November 2020
I found the lead character to be 2 dimensional and to have few redeeming or watchable features. She didn't do a lot, was just one of those characters that just watches everything. This is an overdone technical device to encourage the viewer to watch and pay more attention. However, there was little to see, causing frustration.
The other characters had more life in them but these were not exploited to their full potential. The central theme being a mystery character, didn't really come off that well. This again could have been developed and made much more dramatic and interesting.
A good effort but this storyline was just the basic framework of the story, more flesh was needed on the empty and rather slow bones of the piece.
The other characters had more life in them but these were not exploited to their full potential. The central theme being a mystery character, didn't really come off that well. This again could have been developed and made much more dramatic and interesting.
A good effort but this storyline was just the basic framework of the story, more flesh was needed on the empty and rather slow bones of the piece.
Great atmosphere, nicely shot and performed, flawed story
Carter_Darkly7 November 2020
An 18 year old girl arrives at an out-of-season caravan park by the sea to stay with her boyfriend who works there. She quickly suspects he is involved with another girl and becomes somewhat paranoid. The setting is perfect for the mood and atmosphere the director wants to convey; bleak, lonely, downbeat, and often downright creepy and unsettling. The movie has a very slow pace which in my view works very well, but it will alienate some.
The story has a serious flaw however in that we never really get to know the main character before her certainties begin to unravel and so are not really invested in her plight as we should be. The movie is far more comfortable when tackling her burgeoning friendship with a female character from the campsite than it is when we are asked to believe in her relationship with her boyfriend, which is glossed over and shallow and never really convincing. I like how the director was married to visual storytelling but we needed some kind of conversation between the main character and her boyfriend to believe something was at stake. The ending also falls a little flat, if it can be called an ending. It feels more like we are being told this mysterious, ethereal film was really just a lot of fuss about nothing.
My rating is generous because I like this style of film-making and would definitely watch more by this director, but if she wants to use male characters they should be more than just props and plot conveniences. 6/10
The story has a serious flaw however in that we never really get to know the main character before her certainties begin to unravel and so are not really invested in her plight as we should be. The movie is far more comfortable when tackling her burgeoning friendship with a female character from the campsite than it is when we are asked to believe in her relationship with her boyfriend, which is glossed over and shallow and never really convincing. I like how the director was married to visual storytelling but we needed some kind of conversation between the main character and her boyfriend to believe something was at stake. The ending also falls a little flat, if it can be called an ending. It feels more like we are being told this mysterious, ethereal film was really just a lot of fuss about nothing.
My rating is generous because I like this style of film-making and would definitely watch more by this director, but if she wants to use male characters they should be more than just props and plot conveniences. 6/10
Worst film I've seen in a long time
rebeccaleighton22 November 2020
The protagonist is deeply dull with little personality that is never fleshed out as a character. Her boyfriend is worse. The protagonist's love interest has maybe three quarters of a personality, but in a skin-deep kind of way. The protagonist decides who she prefers.
This deeply boring story plays out with bizarre horror-movie production and editing that just seems to want to play at being arty to conceal its utter lack of depth, when there are Jim Carrey movies with more depth than this.
This deeply boring story plays out with bizarre horror-movie production and editing that just seems to want to play at being arty to conceal its utter lack of depth, when there are Jim Carrey movies with more depth than this.
Low Budget Mini Masterpiece
johnwakeman-13 November 2020
Unlike most reviewers on here I thought this was a terrific movie.
Low budget yes, but all the better for it in my opinion. Much more realistic than those glossy films that have had a load of money thrown at them.
And to those complaining about its slow pace, it says more about your lack of concentration than anything else. It allows the characters room to develop and the atmosphere to build. There is a sense of foreboding and the thought that something awful is about to happen.
Coming of age/coming out dramas are not my usual fare but this was really well done.
Slloooowwwwww
Top_Dawg_Critic9 October 2020
Newb filmmaker Claire Oakley did a fine job at directing, but the writing was paced slower than a snail's pace. The 86 min runtime felt like an eternity, and there were far too many unnecessary random few-second shots. It made matters worse that lead Molly Windsor's role was drab and depressing. It's a good metaphorical story, but should've been a short film instead, which is up Oakley's alley. Cinematography and score were decent. It's a 6/10 from me.
Successful makeup application requires solid foundation...
arthurdaleystrilby15 August 2020
But this film has none.
No story,incoherent plot, not able to work out what genres it wanted to be and blatentlytipping its hat to the ring and The Wicker Man, these are just many of the flaws that leave Make Up teetering on a layer of wafer thin foundation.
Most of all, the involvement of the BBC leaves me wondering if the director is married to//having an affair with or got serious diet on someone working there, as that's the only way I can imagine this car crash getting made.
I only give it 2 because some of the young cast show promise. The director could do with reading Film making for dummies before she inflicts another one of her'visions' on the world. Plot is not a dirty word.
No story,incoherent plot, not able to work out what genres it wanted to be and blatentlytipping its hat to the ring and The Wicker Man, these are just many of the flaws that leave Make Up teetering on a layer of wafer thin foundation.
Most of all, the involvement of the BBC leaves me wondering if the director is married to//having an affair with or got serious diet on someone working there, as that's the only way I can imagine this car crash getting made.
I only give it 2 because some of the young cast show promise. The director could do with reading Film making for dummies before she inflicts another one of her'visions' on the world. Plot is not a dirty word.
Interesting, but not riveting
mmillington55420 October 2020
I enjoyed watching this. It did not easily fit into any genre, and was all the better for that. A rather episodic film, with no clear linear narrative, but it still retained my interest throughout.
It really captured the bleak, barreness of an out of season caravan park, with its motley collection of residents with nowhere else to go.
A bit overloaded with symbolism at times, but definitely worth watching in my view.
It really captured the bleak, barreness of an out of season caravan park, with its motley collection of residents with nowhere else to go.
A bit overloaded with symbolism at times, but definitely worth watching in my view.
Symbolism steals the show
blazing_saddles11 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I didn't know much about this movie before watching it other than it was filmed a few miles from where I grew up. I feel like the director/writer is going to do great things eventually but this film was lacking for me.
I found it visually stunning and each character captivated me on screen. The way the sand dunes/towans, sea and weather showed the internal struggle of Ruth was amazing to me, it's fantastic for a local of the area to see the landscape being used to highlight this to great effect, as some depictions of rural-set movies can stray into stereotype at times.
There is a wholly authentic feel to the setting, the people and the awakening Ruth eventually accepted. This is a movie that is hard to label, it does not fit some of the the genres I have seen used in its marketing.
This may be refreshing to some and it may well be used as a rather convenient reflection to Ruth's growing realisations about her desires... she may also feel she is flitting between genres herself in terms of sexuality and emotional connections.
Desperately realising she is coming out of the jigsaw of gender she thought she may belong and twisting and turning to see where her heart truly lies. At the end curtains are cast open and the sun is appearing.
The initial suffocating and disorientating mood created by the sea mists and winter downpours, the non-genre genres, and the clashing sequences of images that may be the past, present or wishful thinking could be seen as a reflection of the growing chaos within Ruth's own heart and mind.
Symbolism steals the show leaving little room for anything else. I felt I went on the journey with Ruth, but as the symbolism and metaphors are realised into action/acceptance there does not feel to be that emotional continuation of the journey as has been set up in the movie's earlier parts.
The switching genres feels more like a structural device for suggesting an inner struggle that is then discarded once the conflict is resolved leaving the latter part of the movie floundering. Before reading more about the movie I felt this was a very personal story from the director/writer and that it was actually a short movie stretched, unsuccessfully, to a feature length.
Wonderful ingredients but the story relies on structural devices and when the story no longer requires these devices it falls down for me.
I found it visually stunning and each character captivated me on screen. The way the sand dunes/towans, sea and weather showed the internal struggle of Ruth was amazing to me, it's fantastic for a local of the area to see the landscape being used to highlight this to great effect, as some depictions of rural-set movies can stray into stereotype at times.
There is a wholly authentic feel to the setting, the people and the awakening Ruth eventually accepted. This is a movie that is hard to label, it does not fit some of the the genres I have seen used in its marketing.
This may be refreshing to some and it may well be used as a rather convenient reflection to Ruth's growing realisations about her desires... she may also feel she is flitting between genres herself in terms of sexuality and emotional connections.
Desperately realising she is coming out of the jigsaw of gender she thought she may belong and twisting and turning to see where her heart truly lies. At the end curtains are cast open and the sun is appearing.
The initial suffocating and disorientating mood created by the sea mists and winter downpours, the non-genre genres, and the clashing sequences of images that may be the past, present or wishful thinking could be seen as a reflection of the growing chaos within Ruth's own heart and mind.
Symbolism steals the show leaving little room for anything else. I felt I went on the journey with Ruth, but as the symbolism and metaphors are realised into action/acceptance there does not feel to be that emotional continuation of the journey as has been set up in the movie's earlier parts.
The switching genres feels more like a structural device for suggesting an inner struggle that is then discarded once the conflict is resolved leaving the latter part of the movie floundering. Before reading more about the movie I felt this was a very personal story from the director/writer and that it was actually a short movie stretched, unsuccessfully, to a feature length.
Wonderful ingredients but the story relies on structural devices and when the story no longer requires these devices it falls down for me.
Decent if you can read between the lines
nazthegreat117 July 2022
I thought this was a good movie. A lot of it is very vague on the storyline, but it all makes sense at the end if you manage to figure out what the red-haired woman really means. I wouldn't exactly call this easy watching, but I'd suggest it.
Well That Was........Uninteresting.
mcjensen-059243 March 2023
An hour into this movie you will realize that absolutely nothing has happened. Nothing at all. The lead actress is very pretty, as are all of the young actresses in this film. The viewer sure gets to watch her walk around a lot, and she almost shows some actual emotion a few times, but the promise she displayed as a young cast member of the slightly more interesting The Unloved has not yet evolved to it's full potential. Oh, and there's some really gross eating scenes too. Like the microphone is in their mouht. Disgusting! The dolt portraying her boyfriend has the charisma of roadkill, and the reasons why such a lovely young woman would be with a clod like that remain a mystery to the audience. As for plot? Good luck finding it. It tries so hard to incorporate elements of so many genres that it completely falls on it's face. Comedy? No. Thriller? Definitely no. Noir? Don't make me laugh. Drama? Hardly. Even the barren beauty of the windswept landscape doesn't get captured here. Lighting and editing are both lacking. Cinematography nonexistent. Dealogue is sparse and when you get some its pretty trite/juveline stuff. Thought I might be onto something when I found this on tubi. Well, I was onto something. Just nothing good. One aimless, pointless meandering scene after another. Not one believable relationship between characters at any level. I do think several cast members have talent, but they are given no opportunity to shine in this stinker. A movie that doesn't make sense where the characters just say their lines in a monotonous way which belies any meaning. Rather confounding/absurd waste of time. When the movie finally gets around to revealing the secret/revelation it lands with such a thud because by that time the audience is either sleeping or indifferent. Skip.
Self-Portrait Under Plastic
jasperredhat27 November 2022
"I use make-up in the film to look at the different ways in which someone might feel about expressions of femininity, but the title also speaks of making-up things, or telling tales, making up or breaking up. Most importantly, 'making up' our identity." Thats Claire Oakley's definition of her puzzle.
Yes, this film grabs your attention through its sincere ambition to tell you something you can use in life. Gifted and cinematic. And "Make Up" will be plagiarized by filmmakers who can't think for themselves. Hope Claire Oakley gets something for her contribution to film history.
And as Davina Quinlivan pointed out; "...the female identity is further influenced by Maria Lassnig's paintings, particularly Self-Portrait Under Plastic (1972). Lassnig's portrait sees her face under a thin film of plastic, loosely falling over her head." Thank you Davina for that vital input.
Too bad the audience do not show up in the theater to see this piece of kleinkunst. But you might catch it on HBO Max.
Yes, this film grabs your attention through its sincere ambition to tell you something you can use in life. Gifted and cinematic. And "Make Up" will be plagiarized by filmmakers who can't think for themselves. Hope Claire Oakley gets something for her contribution to film history.
And as Davina Quinlivan pointed out; "...the female identity is further influenced by Maria Lassnig's paintings, particularly Self-Portrait Under Plastic (1972). Lassnig's portrait sees her face under a thin film of plastic, loosely falling over her head." Thank you Davina for that vital input.
Too bad the audience do not show up in the theater to see this piece of kleinkunst. But you might catch it on HBO Max.
Atmospheric(-ish) but ultimately pointless.
Jay_Rusty15 February 2021
They tried to go for some kind of psycho-sexual mystery/thriller but failed miserably. The film is schizophrenic & disjointed in nature; the pay-off is weak & contrived. It reminded me of another movie: Muscle (2019), that also thinks that it's smarter than it actually is. If you want weird but accomplished - i.e. not just weird for the sake of weirdness - then watch something like: Norfolk (2015).
Excellent psychological unsettler
creer-720-4615377 November 2020
It's a smallish low budget drama shot as if it's a horror movie. The sound of howling wind, mysterious noises in the buildings, flash-backs, flash-forwards - all very Nic Roeg, which I hope the director takes as a compliment. Lead actor Molly Windsor is great in this.
no plot, just vibes. plus joseph quinn.
theprofessionalfangirl4 August 2022
(joseph, baby, if you're reading this, i would never treat you this way)
(also it says my review is too short but i have nothing else to say so here's the beginning of the bee movie)
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly.
Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground.
The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.
Yellow, black. Yellow, black.
Yellow, black. Yellow, black.
Ooh, black and yellow!
Let's shake it up a little.
Barry! Breakfast is ready!
Ooming!
Hang on a second.
Hello?
Looking sharp.
Use the stairs. Your father paid good money for those.
Sorry. I'm excited.
Here's the graduate.
We're very proud of you, son.
A perfect report card, all B's.
Very proud.
Ma! I got a thing going here.
Barry, I told you, stop flying in the house!
(also it says my review is too short but i have nothing else to say so here's the beginning of the bee movie)
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly.
Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground.
The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.
Yellow, black. Yellow, black.
Yellow, black. Yellow, black.
Ooh, black and yellow!
Let's shake it up a little.
Barry! Breakfast is ready!
Ooming!
Hang on a second.
Hello?
- Barry?
- Adam?
- Oan you believe this is happening?
- I can't. I'll pick you up.
Looking sharp.
Use the stairs. Your father paid good money for those.
Sorry. I'm excited.
Here's the graduate.
We're very proud of you, son.
A perfect report card, all B's.
Very proud.
Ma! I got a thing going here.
- You got lint on your fuzz.
- Ow! That's me!
- Wave to us! We'll be in row 118,000.
- Bye!
Barry, I told you, stop flying in the house!
- Hey, Adam.
- Hey, Barry.
Awful awful awful
m_w_finn4 November 2020
I don't usually review films I watch but having read the uterly unreliable Daily Telegraph review which said "This outstanding debut feature..." I feel others should not be in a position to waste their time. Dull, stupid people stringing rarely more than two uninteresting words together meaninglessly.
Terrible.
nigelmacdonald-9717311 December 2020
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