Chaos and confusion reign as the world of a troubled man caves in, self destructs and obliterates, leaving the audience equally challenged and quite often awkward and uncomfortable - which is exactly as intended you suspect. Outstanding lead from Ben Wishaw.
82 Reviews
all about Ben
SnoopyStyle17 February 2022
Joseph (Ben Whishaw) works at the airport security checkpoint. He's struggling with mental illness and it spirals out of control.
Full marks for Ben Whishaw's performance. Full full marks. The story could do a bit more dramatic reworking. It needs a more compelling climax. It does get a bit repetitive. Nevertheless, this is all about Ben and he's amazing.
Full marks for Ben Whishaw's performance. Full full marks. The story could do a bit more dramatic reworking. It needs a more compelling climax. It does get a bit repetitive. Nevertheless, this is all about Ben and he's amazing.
WIERD BUT WONDERFUL
dhshoesali23 January 2022
An up and down film with brilliant Ben
S3pt3m63r27 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I found this really hard to rate as it wasn't your usual film. No back story, no character build up, it reminded me of many Scandinavian films where you are thrust into someone's life and just have to figure out what's going on. I think for many people they're not comfortable with that, they like things spelt out for them. It's supposed to be depressing as it's dealing with extremes of mood and mental illness. As the film progresses Joseph's mood changes and he undertakes more risky behaviour. On the surface his mood lightens but he's becoming more manic and we are taken with him on the way. It's not a depressing or sad film, thanks to the way the character is played and there's humour, even if it's cringeworthy! At a little over an hour and a half it feels long but stick with it as it's worth it.
A mentalist goes mental.
necromancer-mcgill29 May 2021
Ben Wishaw channels a little of his 'perfume' performance here, (see if you catch the reference), although much more unhinged of course. More madness less method. There's an anxiety which runs throughout this entire picture, exaggerated by the handheld style camera which follows Wishaw's 'Joseph' as he unravels of the course of a couple of days. I really enjoyed this wee film, it all hinges around Wishaw's performance of course and he's great.
I can understand if some folk don't like the shaky cam thing but I thought it worked really well.
I'll keep it spoiler free.
7.3/10.
I can understand if some folk don't like the shaky cam thing but I thought it worked really well.
I'll keep it spoiler free.
7.3/10.
Why did so many here think he was normal to begin with?
crowmick-243-51333011 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I just watched.
This is an exploration of mental illness that I found engaging. To those who criticize, watch again and know this is a individual who tried very hard to 'hold it together' but there are many clues that he is very ill to begin with.
Two places I was thrown out was the sexual encounter with coworker... c'mon man, totally unbelievable and gratuitous.... no basis for it, at all.
The second was after his father called police he seemed to escape again, that seemed a big stretch as he had already left a trail, and police had tapped his apartment and parents.
The fact that he could go unseen was the point. We have built a modern society of great mobility and disconnection. The TSA job was a perfect jump off point.
This is an exploration of mental illness that I found engaging. To those who criticize, watch again and know this is a individual who tried very hard to 'hold it together' but there are many clues that he is very ill to begin with.
Two places I was thrown out was the sexual encounter with coworker... c'mon man, totally unbelievable and gratuitous.... no basis for it, at all.
The second was after his father called police he seemed to escape again, that seemed a big stretch as he had already left a trail, and police had tapped his apartment and parents.
The fact that he could go unseen was the point. We have built a modern society of great mobility and disconnection. The TSA job was a perfect jump off point.
Very good
jimdl-6565619 September 2021
Unbearable Shaky Cam
cliftonsierralk9 February 2020
I saw this film at Sundance 2020. Lead gave us a thrilling performance. However, camera being handheld most of the time and especially in the more active scenes lead to an unwatchable shaky cam whenever the main character started running. Almost no wide shots the whole movie, and everything was close up. All the time people would be doing things with their hands or something like that but you couldn't even see it and that was so annoying. I would literally stop watching during the shaky cam parts because I was getting literally nothing from it and I was scared I would get a headache. If the movie had a bit more polish or maturity with the cinematography perhaps it would have been eons more enjoyable.
Moving portrait of a spiral into mental illness
joannekate5 December 2021
I love Ben Whishaw, and this is strangely reminiscent of ' Perfume: Story of a Murderer.' It's a fairly arty film, shot in a very modern way. It takes place over twenty four hours and details the slide into mental meltdown of a young airport worker, Joseph. He's a bit of a loner, has obviously had a bit of a traumatic upbringing with a strict, grumpy Father and a downtrodden Mother. His job is mundane, he has few friends and is struggling with lonliness.
His descent into mental decline is almost reminiscent of ' Joker', as it almost feels as though Joseph is becoming liberated and free ad he begins to run amok in London. I really liked it, and thought Ben Whishaw was convincing and likeable. I was on his side all the way through.
His descent into mental decline is almost reminiscent of ' Joker', as it almost feels as though Joseph is becoming liberated and free ad he begins to run amok in London. I really liked it, and thought Ben Whishaw was convincing and likeable. I was on his side all the way through.
Arthouse "Joker"
Alexander_Blanchett28 February 2020
Well its an intersting Concept and basically the Arthouse Version of "Joker" so to say. Without a doubt an amibtious Project and it started off very well and exciting but then lost itself in trivality. The Problem is that you felt writer and director did not really know what to do once his leading characters reached the Peak and it started to be repetive and even unlogical to some Points.
Ben Whishaw is great in the leading role, often even very irrating which was absolutely intetioned and fitted his characters transofrmation. The actress who played his mother also touched my heart and pulled the right strings. The rest of the cast is solid but not really too noteworthy as they appear as quickly as they disappear again. The shakey camera Thing was definitely overdone.
Anyway the film is the invitation into the brain of a man who suffers from a mental breakdown and goes on an Anarchist self finding trip. I am not sure what the film tries to tell us, except that crazy People often emerge from the normal ones.
Average.
daviddunn-9065330 May 2021
There's no denying the acting here is top notch. However, the storyline is deeply depressing, miserable characters with no redeeming qualities, and camera work that may require some viewers reaching for the anti-sickness tablets . Using a very shakey hand held camera for large chunks of this film, I had a headache by the end. If you want a feel good movie this certainly isnt the one for you.
One of the finest lead performances you will ever see.
durham10013 November 2021
I have just finished watching this and I am emotionally drained. For those saying this is amatuerish I am sorry but you know nothing about cinema at all. The hand held camera works brilliantly - it lets us into josephs world. The fact that people on the street are staring at him and the camera doesn't matter as they would stare at his behaviour anyway and it adds to the realism and this must have added to the pressure for Ben Wishaw to pull this off. At times this feels like a cruel documentary where the subject is allowed to hit rock bottom for the good of the film. This is stunning. Wishaw should have had an oscar - he has a massive career ahead of him. Give it a chance as it does start slowly but with good reason. Let your self immerse in it and you won't even realise you are watching a movie.
Recommended
DaneliusUK16 June 2021
Disturbingly pleasing.
If you're a film junkie like myself then you'll appreciate the time and effort that Aneil Karia and everyone else put in to make this happen.
I enjoyed it. Not my place to say where it could have been improved. It is what it is.
Thank you.
If you're a film junkie like myself then you'll appreciate the time and effort that Aneil Karia and everyone else put in to make this happen.
I enjoyed it. Not my place to say where it could have been improved. It is what it is.
Thank you.
Awful, And Practically Unwatchable!
martimusross9 August 2021
Surge
This art house movie was a stream of consciousness in real time depicting an airport customs officers ensuring mental health breakdown in response to the challenges of everyday life.
In the Joker we had a similar approach where the everyday life was more interesting.
To my mind the acting quirks and contortions of a method acting demonstration is insufficient to sustain a movie, in the classroom as an acting exercise yes, but we don't want to see footballers practice we want to see the game.
There was zero story, zero dialogue and no narrative drive or impetus, we had insufficient character development or back story for the audience to develop any sympathy so we didn't care about the outcome.
This was instantly forgettable rubbish if you managed to stick with it to the end.
This art house movie was a stream of consciousness in real time depicting an airport customs officers ensuring mental health breakdown in response to the challenges of everyday life.
In the Joker we had a similar approach where the everyday life was more interesting.
To my mind the acting quirks and contortions of a method acting demonstration is insufficient to sustain a movie, in the classroom as an acting exercise yes, but we don't want to see footballers practice we want to see the game.
There was zero story, zero dialogue and no narrative drive or impetus, we had insufficient character development or back story for the audience to develop any sympathy so we didn't care about the outcome.
This was instantly forgettable rubbish if you managed to stick with it to the end.
Great watch!
tonyc13-420-87616821 April 2022
My First review on this site and I watch many films in many genres.
Captivating from the start. Great journey that shows a mental struggle.main character is so interesting to the end. So much better than alot of the films on Netflix.
Captivating from the start. Great journey that shows a mental struggle.main character is so interesting to the end. So much better than alot of the films on Netflix.
Shaky camera is annoying, but didn't spoil the movie for me.
foxtografo27 August 2021
First of all, and as many of people reviewing this movie, I was annoyed by the shaky camera. I totally understand why it's been used, and it does create the desired effect of loss of control and mental chaos, but it's way overdone and even at points it spoils the great performance from Whishaw in the main role as you can barely see his face. It really bothered me at the beginning, but in time I've got pass it and could let myself into the ride.
It's quite an intense one, with good performances and atmosphere, but it didn't feel very realistic to me. A lot of the situations were quite unbelievable (more in London, where I live), and even the character's transformation, I'm no expert, but I'm not so sure it would go that way, I have to trust the director and writer have done some research on it, but I'm still unsure about it, there doesn't seem to be enough going on for a person to break like that. From the beginning we see that the guy has some issues going on though, so it could make sense I guess. Besides the reasons, again, big merit to the main actor on his performance.
The story is quite simple, not much going on really, but overall is an interesting movie.
It's quite an intense one, with good performances and atmosphere, but it didn't feel very realistic to me. A lot of the situations were quite unbelievable (more in London, where I live), and even the character's transformation, I'm no expert, but I'm not so sure it would go that way, I have to trust the director and writer have done some research on it, but I'm still unsure about it, there doesn't seem to be enough going on for a person to break like that. From the beginning we see that the guy has some issues going on though, so it could make sense I guess. Besides the reasons, again, big merit to the main actor on his performance.
The story is quite simple, not much going on really, but overall is an interesting movie.
Painful to watch
lucyannashford9 October 2021
BW is always good to watch in everything he does, but this was just too uncomfortable and similar to the daily frustrations we all regularly face, for me to want to watch to the end. One bad day after another until he reached breaking point and cracked! Poor man.
Personally I prefer a little escapism from reality!
Personally I prefer a little escapism from reality!
'Falling Down' in modern-day London
Go_For_The_Jugular15 September 2021
Reminded me so much of the Michael Douglas film, 'Falling Down'...just not as good.
I would like to see the lead actor in something else, because he was brilliant. Everyone and everything else about this film sucked!
I would like to see the lead actor in something else, because he was brilliant. Everyone and everything else about this film sucked!
Watch with caution.
Antiguan-Princess3 October 2021
If you've ever watched someone close have a severe mental breakdown then this might hit a few nerves. This was not overacted it was real and raw. This is happening all over the world and people need to realise it can happen to them or someone close to them. Whoever said this was overacted clearly hasn't witnessed this type of breakdown first hand in their lifetime. I hope they never do as it is most harrowing and terrifying for family members. The acting was first class and really showed the true reality of the lack of understanding of others. My heart goes out to those who have suffered such severe mental breakdowns and their loved ones that have witnessed them.
Gave me motion sicknes
j-m-d-b23 September 2021
Effective in depicting a mental breakdown. The shallow depth of field close-ups with only the protagonist in focus show his isolation, it reminded me of Da xiang xidi erzuo (2018).
Unfortunately the extreme shaky cam made me feel queasy so I left the cinema after about half an hour. I can see why the artistic decision was made but I just couldn't handle it.
Unfortunately the extreme shaky cam made me feel queasy so I left the cinema after about half an hour. I can see why the artistic decision was made but I just couldn't handle it.
Exhausting
justahunch-7054917 August 2022
The extremely talented Ben Whishaw in a tour de force role of a man having a complete breakdown. The film is basically nothing more than that other than some interaction with a few others, primarily his parents. I love him as a performer and all he has done has gradually produced a really fascinating career and from what I know, he's seems also a pretty interesting man. I think I would like him. He is great here, but I cannot say that I enjoyed this film very much other than viewing a performer giving it his all. It is depressing to watch and it wore me out, but I am glad that I got too see what he does here. Other than Bond films, it's a rarity to see him in conventional films and he is never less than good and usually more than that.
Too Crazy
ferdmalenfant11 September 2020
Surge. A movie that breaks the rules.
derek-redican11 September 2021
This is a nicely tempered movie about a man working at at an airport security check having a nervous breakdown and finally going over the edge. The ensuing mad rampage through London could have been worse but the directors kept their cool and made it all about believability. Their ace card was Ben Whishaw. I don't think I've ever seen a similar role played with such complete mastery. What a talent.
As others have said, don't let other reviews about 'shaky camera' put you off. The camera accurately mirrored the madness the protagonist was descending into. How else can a visual storytelling convey he whirl of random thoughts spinning around his head and driving him insane?
Hollywood would have taken this script and produced an entirely different take on it. Probably with lots of blood and guts. So I say 'fair play' to the actual producers and director for not falling into that repetitive formula.
As others have said, don't let other reviews about 'shaky camera' put you off. The camera accurately mirrored the madness the protagonist was descending into. How else can a visual storytelling convey he whirl of random thoughts spinning around his head and driving him insane?
Hollywood would have taken this script and produced an entirely different take on it. Probably with lots of blood and guts. So I say 'fair play' to the actual producers and director for not falling into that repetitive formula.
Unsettling
cbnewham24 November 2022
The film has a very slow start but it is worth it in the end. There is an element of "Falling Down". However, unlike that movie, Surge really doesn't have any back story, and therein lies its weakness. It is also somewhat contrived at times, in particular the sequence of events that pushed the main character over the edge.
There is one small mystery that is not explained, to which the viewer is not privileged to hear, occurring at a wedding reception - although I guess it is just a verbal repetition of what is written on the notes the main character passes to bank tellers.
Ben Wishaw's performance is extremely good, but, set against a script with the weakness mentioned above, it doesn't rate more than a 6 from me.
There is one small mystery that is not explained, to which the viewer is not privileged to hear, occurring at a wedding reception - although I guess it is just a verbal repetition of what is written on the notes the main character passes to bank tellers.
Ben Wishaw's performance is extremely good, but, set against a script with the weakness mentioned above, it doesn't rate more than a 6 from me.
Unoriginal annoyance
horst6930 May 2021
This movie is a stereotypical tale of a regular person getting unhinged .
There is no original thought, just an over-acted succession of a few cliched scenes and cinematic approaches we have seen in countless movies before .
The filming and editing is equally uninspired, an amateurish attempt at supporting a story that didn't exist, and hence being erractic without reason .
The creators tried too hard, had neither the skills nor talent to execute the project even if there had been a foundation .
It's just a mess without direction and meaning .
There is no original thought, just an over-acted succession of a few cliched scenes and cinematic approaches we have seen in countless movies before .
The filming and editing is equally uninspired, an amateurish attempt at supporting a story that didn't exist, and hence being erractic without reason .
The creators tried too hard, had neither the skills nor talent to execute the project even if there had been a foundation .
It's just a mess without direction and meaning .
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