This disturbingly relatable dark British comedy/thriller does an amazing job of turning social anxiety and general awkwardness into excruciating cinematic terror, while also being very funny.
It takes a familiar set-up (old uni chums reunite for a weekend at a country manor) and infuses it with incredibly well-observed depictions of group social dynamics among 30-somethings, the distance that can form between friends over time, and some good old-fashioned English class conflict.
Our protagonist is Pete (Tom Stourton, who also co-wrote the screenplay), a tall, well-meaning, socially awkward “nice guy” who recently returned from a stint volunteering at a refugee camp, a fact he is never quite able to insert into conversation organically.
He has plans to celebrate his 31st birthday weekend with his mostly upper-crust college friends at a plush estate. Before heading off, he reassures his girlfriend (who is joining them later) that the group (which includes his ex) aren’t “stereotypical posh people”.
After an uncomfortable encounter with a craggy-faced local, Pete arrives to an empty house while hilariously blasting Darude’s Sandstorm. He eventually connects with the gang, which includes cheerful George (Joshua McGuire), whose parents own the house, the scathing Fig (Georgina Campbell, recently seen in Barbarian), the sloshed Archie (Graham Dickson, wholeheartedly embracing and indeed elevating the toffy lush trope), dour ex-girlfriend Claire (Antonia Clarke) and an acerbic rando they picked up at the pub named Harry (Dustin Demri-Burns).
