REVIEW - Group (William R.A. Rush)

Written and Directed by William R.A. Rush (One for the Road, Coffee with Baba), 'Group' is an intriguing feature film set in a meeting of recovering drug addicts.

Comprised of a stellar cast, including some well-known faces as well as some newcomers; viewers are treated to performances from Marcus Watson (Call the Midwife), Joe Montoya (LA Underground), Michael Lake (The Invention of the Exploding Toothbrushes, Famous Feuds), Renata Fajti (Parched 3: Beached, Thug for President, Groupie: The Blueprint of a Self Made Millionaire), Nicolas Sullivan (Blood Harvest, I Was There), Chris Rivera (Esther's Diary, The Great American Moon Rock Caper), Allie Press (Darkness is Coming, Strawberry Mansion), Haulston Mann (One Piece, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, A Good Cop, The Disastrous Dating Life of Diane Damone), Tricia Buerke (The Hand That Feeds) and Don Scribner (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Lucky Chance, World of Warcraft, My Haunted House).

Touted as a movie that sits within the horror genre, this actually feels more like a drama or thriller with moments of dark comedy.

Obviously, the subject of addiction is very emotive, and could be triggering for some, but Rush approaches this with tact, and there are some tender moments in the backstories of some of the characters. The film also touches on the subjects of suicide, sexuality, drug use and mental health.

The setting of an addict's meeting allows for some intimate character development, and really gives the viewer plenty of opportunity to fully invest in the characters, who are introduced one by one with intro slates displaying witty epithets detailing aspects of their personality, addictions and reasons for attending the meeting - similar to the character introductions from the the classics of British cult cinema, Trainspotting and Human Traffic, (and perhaps Rush's use of this form here further underpins and solidifies it an emergent trope of movies with a focus on addiction and drug use culture).

Set exclusively indoors, in the same room, and with each character divulging their innermost troubles and traumas, with an almost punitive sense of their being there, there are aspects of this which feel like a warped parody of The Breakfast Club, only for naughty grown-ups rather than misfit kids.

some really as we learn of their troubles and traumas; why each of them is there - like a Breakfast Club of adults

However, despite the endearing and tender moments, there is a price for this in-depth character development - the film is a real slow-burner. Viewers with a short attention span will likely struggle, and hardcore fans of the horror genre who chance upon this owing to its categorisation as such may very well be disappointed, as is literally no suggestion of anything sinister, untoward, scary or anything else one might reasonably expect from the genre for the vast majority of the film, and at over two hours in duration, to say the pacing could be improved would be an understatement - and that's also taking into consideration the obvious need for moments of silence to enhance dramatic effect and place emphasis.

The background segments are sort of flashback vignettes which flesh out each character, and whilst arty and clever, these could have probably been better executed. Also, I'm not sure a plot twist and violent ending are enough to really qualify this film as a horror, and yet that said, there is much to enjoy and commend here, from the detailed dialogue and characters, to the careful use of humour, and the talented cast, and this film will certainly find its fans among those who enjoy feature dramas and dark comedies.