I couldnt keep up. I think I understood the concept, that it was meant to show her interpretation of the unfiltered versions of what was inside peoples heads rather than the external versions of what they actually say. But with that in mind, I still dont know what this film was trying to portray.
19 Reviews
so that's an anti-rom-com
SnoopyStyle23 August 2021
Mandy (Billie Piper) is a struggling single mom in the modern world with a bad job and a troubled son. Her mother Marion (Kerry Fox) has been living with her for the last six years after being abandoned by her father Vic (David Thewlis). She starts dating co-worker Pete (Leo Bill) who is against the modern feminist world and is frustratingly bitter. She figures that he's going to rape her on their first date and so of course, she continues dating him.
I wanted to see why this is described as an anti-rom-com. Tom is an ugly hateful character. Sometimes, those misanthropes can be funny characters. Tom is never funny. There is no reason for Mandy to date him. He's one of those bad blind dates in a rom-com montage. We can laugh at his one horrible line but we don't have to spend the rest of the movie with him. Mandy is the classic pathetic single gal in the big world character. She's a staple in TV sitcoms and various rom-coms. Billie Piper is an appealing actress and her charisma overpowers any flaws. I see what's she's trying to do here. She's an older woman who lost her youth and feels her beauty fading away. She's overwhelmed by all sides. The question is what she's going to do with that character. This is her debut as a writer and as a director. It's interesting that she's choosing to do a dark underside interpretation of the standard rom-com. I don't think it achieves what it wants. It tries to do surreal but it comes too late. There are undeserved turns. It's not truly dark enough to be shocking or somehow worthy of discussion. It's definitely not funny despite some quirky turns. Billie Piper may have some interesting ideas but she's not experienced enough to pull it all together in a black comedy which is often a tough genre to get right. My one big suggestion is to make Pete her horrible husband from the start. She's stuck in a bad marriage and she needs to escape. In this movie, she doesn't need to escape as much as she needs to never get trapped in the first place.
I wanted to see why this is described as an anti-rom-com. Tom is an ugly hateful character. Sometimes, those misanthropes can be funny characters. Tom is never funny. There is no reason for Mandy to date him. He's one of those bad blind dates in a rom-com montage. We can laugh at his one horrible line but we don't have to spend the rest of the movie with him. Mandy is the classic pathetic single gal in the big world character. She's a staple in TV sitcoms and various rom-coms. Billie Piper is an appealing actress and her charisma overpowers any flaws. I see what's she's trying to do here. She's an older woman who lost her youth and feels her beauty fading away. She's overwhelmed by all sides. The question is what she's going to do with that character. This is her debut as a writer and as a director. It's interesting that she's choosing to do a dark underside interpretation of the standard rom-com. I don't think it achieves what it wants. It tries to do surreal but it comes too late. There are undeserved turns. It's not truly dark enough to be shocking or somehow worthy of discussion. It's definitely not funny despite some quirky turns. Billie Piper may have some interesting ideas but she's not experienced enough to pull it all together in a black comedy which is often a tough genre to get right. My one big suggestion is to make Pete her horrible husband from the start. She's stuck in a bad marriage and she needs to escape. In this movie, she doesn't need to escape as much as she needs to never get trapped in the first place.
Intriguing storytelling to say the least.
patriciogl1025 June 2021
While it is certainly different from what you could have expected, I could argue that it is not an entirely satisfying watch. Even though Billie Piper does a remarkable job behind and in front of the camera, the film overall feels like it lacks strenght in the right places. However I won't take away the fact that it takes quite a notable direction in storytelling, which can confuse some viewers, and fascinate others. Obviously this was Miss Piper's intention, but it was not entirely well-executed, in my view. Although the ending did leave me content somehow.
Even so, there are some marvellous performances to behold, such as the one coming from Billie Piper herself, along with Leo Bill, Kerry Fox and the always solid David Thewlis.
Interesting directing debut from Piper, and while not exent from criticism, it is a rightful start that could lead to more precisely elaborated and well-polished endeavours.
Even so, there are some marvellous performances to behold, such as the one coming from Billie Piper herself, along with Leo Bill, Kerry Fox and the always solid David Thewlis.
Interesting directing debut from Piper, and while not exent from criticism, it is a rightful start that could lead to more precisely elaborated and well-polished endeavours.
I so tried to follow this story but I still don't know where I ended up
LordCommandar23 May 2021
This was a very intriguing/bizarre film. I guess you can call it a dramedy of love, faith and atheism. I just felt that it was a bunch of rare scenes that were so unfollowable. Was this a play, was it a film, honestly I'm still not sure. I so tried to follow this story but I still don't know where I ended up. I will say this....it was definitely rare.
Tongue-in-cheek & topical.
W011y4m515 March 2023
"I Hate Suzie" Draft 1 - before (scribe, executive producer, director & star) Billie Piper's co-creator & writer of the renowned HBO Max series (who previously worked with her on "Secret Diary of a Call Girl") Lucy Prebble came along to iron out the creases; "Rare Beasts" generally has the exact same premise ('Mandy' - a less refined & distinguished iteration of the later protagonist - is a mother who's emotionally disconnected from life, struggling to cope within the stifling confines of a dysfunctional family unit which frustratingly lacks the reassuring support she needs to cope & navigating the minefield that is parenthood & adulthood alone - exacerbated by the pressures unfairly placed on her, due to her gender - feels increasingly isolated & nihilistic whilst she simultaneously tries to prevent that unpalatable cynicism from polluting her child's outlook on life) so has a lot of similar stuff to say as a satirical social commentary (regarding the disenfranchisement many obviously feel with modern day society, disproportionately affecting women trying to make something of themselves alongside their male counterparts in an oppressive systematic structure - for instance, the patriarchy - & how unprocessed trauma created by this disparity of treatment can manifest itself within our behaviours & inadvertently be inherited from one generation to the next) but the film (despite being extremely well realised visually, playing out more akin to an expressionistic piece of theatre than a movie - & shot beautifully by DoP Patrick Meller, using this as a clear audition tape for "I Hate Suzie Too") doesn't really articulate the points it's trying to make as coherently - so the viewing experience is sadly stymied somewhat by the fact that although it clearly has a lot to say... It also conveys very little, ironically.
Plus, since stories usually tend to require a narrative's progression to evolve with a sense of purposefulness in order to retain an audience's engagement, I can sympathise with those who found the overwhelming aura of futility & meaninglessness as hard to sit through - since that seemingly contradicts the very reason for continuing any further.
However, I'd argue the purposelessness is a justifiable purpose, in & of itself & additionally, although she arguably bites off more than the feature's able to satisfyingly chew within the run-time, I'll always commend a filmmaker for boldly imbuing their project with ambition, even if the execution of said concept unfortunately falters slightly. Hence, I enjoyed the topical tale, irrespective of the imperfections & would still recommend, nonetheless.
Plus, since stories usually tend to require a narrative's progression to evolve with a sense of purposefulness in order to retain an audience's engagement, I can sympathise with those who found the overwhelming aura of futility & meaninglessness as hard to sit through - since that seemingly contradicts the very reason for continuing any further.
However, I'd argue the purposelessness is a justifiable purpose, in & of itself & additionally, although she arguably bites off more than the feature's able to satisfyingly chew within the run-time, I'll always commend a filmmaker for boldly imbuing their project with ambition, even if the execution of said concept unfortunately falters slightly. Hence, I enjoyed the topical tale, irrespective of the imperfections & would still recommend, nonetheless.
Too goofy for its own good
EPMD5715 April 2022
The writers and director went for bizarre with this one. I'm not a big fan of that approach to storytelling, and this was no exception. The weirdness overwhelmed the story and made me want to watch something less silly.
You'll know after the first five minutes whether or not this movie is for you.
You'll know after the first five minutes whether or not this movie is for you.
I liked it, it's basically the anti "500 Days of Summer"
mesaxi1 October 2022
I had to watch this movie when I saw how polarized the IMDb reviews were. People either seemed to LOVE or HATE it. I really enjoyed the themes of this movie, the overall message, the acting, and most of the direction. The major problems came for me when the Director got a little too artsy-fartsy, which really only happened towards the end of the movie.
I think the opening scene was brilliant, not only for its candor, but because it will tell you if you will be able to enjoy the movie right then and there. A lot of people will probably turn it off right away, and that's probably for the best. If you don't like it, don't force yourself to watch it, it's a rough and uncomfortable journey.
I give the movie a 6 to say it's above average, worth watching if you're into that kind of movie, but not something anyone MUST see. I look forward to more from this filmmaker, if they can reserve their art school tendencies.
I think the opening scene was brilliant, not only for its candor, but because it will tell you if you will be able to enjoy the movie right then and there. A lot of people will probably turn it off right away, and that's probably for the best. If you don't like it, don't force yourself to watch it, it's a rough and uncomfortable journey.
I give the movie a 6 to say it's above average, worth watching if you're into that kind of movie, but not something anyone MUST see. I look forward to more from this filmmaker, if they can reserve their art school tendencies.
What in the GCSE drama is this?
thomasbgleeson26 May 2021
Billie Piper is no Emerald Fennell or Phoebe Waller Bridge. This film is like someone has seen one episode of Flebag and wanted to make a film in the same wacky way but this has completely flopped. It has no plot or message. It's genuinely quite a terrible film.
Enjoyable modern drama
Curlybibble1330 May 2021
I enjoyed the film, though definitely had overlaps with Billie Piper's series I Hate Suzie (which I must say I preferred). At times I couldn't work out if I was supposed to be rooting for her character and love interest to be together, and I found Pete's character rather confusing. But on the whole enjoyable and inventive, really intrigued to see what Billie comes up with next.
A terrible film
rachelcheshire3511 June 2021
Loved this movie
amitayz22 May 2021
I loved this movies chaos, social criticism and honestly. I found it to be very authentic and raw, which is just what I needed today. A movie for day when you're love life, or just life, is just too much. Billie Piper is an amazing actress.
Sensationally written, brilliantly acted.
wwwalexwww2 September 2019
Psychopaths and F-bombs
sorin8615 July 2022
A messy film with a couple of psychopaths using F-bombs excessively. So they appear cool to similar morons. Yes, even the child is swearing.
Chaotic scenes suggesting a Facebook incoherent moronic environment. Ugly people, ugly souls.
Chaotic scenes suggesting a Facebook incoherent moronic environment. Ugly people, ugly souls.
Oof
nimis-3835721 May 2021
Enjoyably Weird
zorroaca23 May 2021
Brilliant example of Autistic relationships
ocmacman21 May 2021
A world of marred realities, functionality is the real treat. A reality that most can't understand let alone describe.
The performances are magic, a real look into a world so incomprehensible to the normal mind. They're ability to interact, love and forgive.
Opened my eyes to another reality, so foreign yet presented so well, I actually have come away with a new understanding and respect for those afflicted.
This movie deserves many awards.
I can only hope people can see and understand the gift they have received.
Brilliant.
The performances are magic, a real look into a world so incomprehensible to the normal mind. They're ability to interact, love and forgive.
Opened my eyes to another reality, so foreign yet presented so well, I actually have come away with a new understanding and respect for those afflicted.
This movie deserves many awards.
I can only hope people can see and understand the gift they have received.
Brilliant.
resonating
ravinewitch12 October 2022
Pulled in by the first scene and then it's just an experience of emotions. I never wanted any particular outcome for the main character, just felt along with her. This film is an experience, not something to think through but to feel through. Sometimes it's confusing, sometimes uncomfortable, that's part of the range. I loved the last scene, the feeling you get at the very end. It's foolish to compare this to other films or artists, because it really isn't at all like anything else. It's Billie Piper's original art, and she clearly knows what she's doing. I appreciated viewing this alone, having space to feel the unexpected depths where it reached.
Sooo pleasantly surprised!
donnak01257 September 2021
Well... I'd like to give it 10 stars, but there's something in me that says "What do I know? Yes, I loved this movie & I think it is quite close to perfect. So... yes I might be an insecure critic & it is pobably a cop-out for me to be stingy with one point. Giving this movie a 10 might somehow just cheapen this film a bit because I've learned perfect isn't all it's cracked-up to be (true from multiple pts of view). Giving this or any film a 10 can easily & immediately put-off some people, causing some to turn away from the film & refuse to give it any attention. This movie absolutely doesn't deserve that! Oh poo, so am I manipulating votes? Yuck, I guess I am. Bummer, I hoped this would be easier, so I'll stop now before I screw up rven more! So, a nine stars will have to do for now, eventhough I can't offer any helpful criticism. I won't risk spoiling it for future viewers!!!
I WILL SAY: Turn the volume way up, they speak fast, so listen closely! You may have to rewind repeatedly to catch every word of the dialogue especially if you're not from the UK. You won't want to miss any of it!
I WILL SAY: Turn the volume way up, they speak fast, so listen closely! You may have to rewind repeatedly to catch every word of the dialogue especially if you're not from the UK. You won't want to miss any of it!
Surprisingly weird
Movies300020 February 2022
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