The Special Effects of Ben Wheatley
Toby Bula-Edge
A full house came out in force to see Ben Wheatley’s new film Bulk at the Electric Palace on Thursday 14. The screening was accompanied by a Q&A with the director. Questions were teased out of audience members with a free poster for the first six questioners – which worked a treat!
Wheatley is seen by many as a current leader – perhaps the leader – in British ‘arthouse’ cinema. His films feel steeped in, and deeply connected to, an array of odd British films and TV – notably from the folk-horror genre. They’re also known for blending genres, as in Sightseers and Kill List.
Bulk is no different. Rather than blending genre, however, it’s more like he’s whipped up the film itself in a blender. It jumps around, telling the story of Corey Harlan (Sam Riley) – trapped in an interdimensional world after an explosion tears up reality, searching for the scientist who caused the incident. He’s assisted by Aclima (Alexandra Maria Lara) and occasionally shot at or helped by Sessler (Noah Taylor).
It’s not always clear what is happening, though that’s not a problem. You’re instantly tossed into the film and you’re taken for the ride. The film’s jumpy nature, flinging you around different locations, and its dense ‘sci-fi’ dialogue, could become a bit of a bog which you had to wade through. But, it doesn’t. The film is great fun: funny and entertaining while retaining interest through its unconventional style.
Having established himself as a low-budget, ‘arthouse’ director, with equally experimental films in his pocket like A Field in England, Wheatley is also known to take on big-budget blockbusters. His most recent is one that he refers to as a “big shark film” – The Meg 2. But Bulk seems worlds apart. The special effects resemble Thunderbirds – or any other supermarionation series – and really draw attention to themselves. But this is done with deliberate intent. Wheatley talked about making the effects “so bad that you notice them,” but the effect of that is that you adjust and forget about them.
For all its madness, the film carries you away. You feel, too, his passion for filmmaking. This was made between projects – a TV series and another film. He just “likes making films” and he does it whenever and with whatever and with a lot of passion. A passion that’s shared by the audience.
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