Feature Article

When writing the article for my double page spread, I decided it would be best to do a review. I looked at other examples before writing my own. This is the first draft:

Deluca is a stylistic look at the dark side of a teenage mind. It delves into the confused world of Deluca, a character whose confusion is effectively brought out by the film’s star Ryan Hearn and the writer/director, Alexander Prynne. Although the film is only short, it manages to cram in a great deal of story, told with only three characters. The titular character is the only one who comes into contact with both, his two lovers, Hugo and Sarah, both of whom create just as much confusion for Deluca as the other.

The violence of Deluca would not be of the interest of many, though the brutality is mostly only shown in the eyes of Deluca. It is a film shot in such a way as to make this recurring theme of confusion clear, but to not put the audience in this same position. Narratively, the film hinges its success not on the characters, some of which are not quite given enough time to really be developed enough, but on its themes and their execution. The characters in the film, Deluca particularly, thrives in his mysterious state, in which nothing is ever really learned apart from what is given to us by Sarah and Hugo. These characters reliability of existence and information though casts more doubt and mystery over Deluca as a character.

The film’s stars are also great upcoming talent, all of whom add to the dramatic power of Deluca. Not only does Ryan Hearn give a quality performance as the titular character, but Rose Harris and Callum Starr, also give performances of equal power as Sarah and Hugo, respectively. 

The film is edited together it what could be described as a continuous piece, though it could also be described as being made up of scenes that flash back, and forwards, and possibly through realities.  This is not the only thing, however, that may not be warmly received by the wider audiences when the film is finally released. The creative decision was made to burn a bible. In our conversation with Alexander Prynne, he said that this decision was carefully made with ‘no intent of offending anyone’. He said that the decision was only made as it ‘fits perfectly with the story I wanted to tell’. We feel that, whilst this may very well anger many people, particularly a Christian audience, it is still an important aspect to this film that adds to its uniqueness as a story and a stylistic, creative piece.

Deluca is a brave film with its risk of controversy and its complexity in such a short runtime, though it shows some of the finest work of its writer/director Alexander Prynne. This is defiantly a short film that everyone should see at least once in their life, defiantly as it is only five minutes long it is pretty near essential in fact.

I then went back to it to write a second draft, this is it:

Deluca is a stylistic look at the dark side of a teenage mind. It delves into the confused world of Deluca, a character whose confusion is effectively brought out by the film’s star Ryan Hearn and the writer/director, Alexander Prynne. Although the film is only short, it manages to cram in a great deal of story, told with only three characters. The titular character is the only one who comes into contact with both, his two lovers, Hugo and Sarah, both of whom create just as much confusion for Deluca as the other. This confusion is really brought to life by the editing that is a clever weave of scenes that flash back, and forwards, and possibly through realities. 

The violence of Deluca would not be of the interest to many, though the brutality is mostly only shown in the eyes of Deluca meaning there is some strong drama in this psychological thriller for those in the audience who do not thrive on violence. The violence is not the only thing that may not be warmly received by wider audiences when the film is finally released… The creative decision was made to burn a bible. In our conversation with Alexander Prynne, he said that this decision was carefully made with; “No intent of offending anyone and when you see the film you will see that it fits perfectly with the story I wanted to tell.” We feel that, whilst this may very well anger many people, particularly a Christian audience, it is still an important aspect to this film that adds to its uniqueness as a story and a stylistic, creative piece.

Narratively, the film hinges its success not only on strong characterisation but on the performance of the actors who quite frankly at times I would have liked to have seen more of in order to really get to know their characters…but the restrictions of the genre meant this was no possible. This said, the young cast certainly brought to life their characters and made emotive the harrowing themes of the plot. The film’s up and coming stars all add to the dramatic power of Deluca, Ryan Hearn gives a quality performance as the titular character penetrating audiences with his mysterious stare while Rose Harris and Callum Starr give powerful supportive performances that take the viewer further into the world and torment of the protagonist as Sarah and Hugo, respectively. 

Overall, Deluca is a brave film with its risk of controversy and its complexity in such a short runtime, though it shows some of the finest work of its writer/director Alexander Prynne. This is defiantly a short film that everyone should see at least once in their life.