Ill Fated (Mark A. Lewis). 96 minutes. Opens Friday (August 19). For venues and times, see Movies, page 86 Rating: NNN
Rating: NNN
Ill Fated is an intricate, carefully constructed drama about fate and responsibility.
When 18-year-old Jimmy’s long-lost father ( Peter Outerbridge ) returns to the town of Thithily in rural BC, he discovers that his son is entangled in a web of incest, murder and blind destiny. Jimmy (a ludicrously wholesome Paul Campbell , radiating ordinariness) wants to take off for college, but his dumb friends, crazy girlfriend and various random acts of violence keep getting in the way.
The acting has rough patches, but Outerbridge hits exactly the right note of sleazy, rabbity pathos as the feckless dad.
This is a thoughtful, dark and occasionally funny film, although it’s not really the comedy it wants you to think it is.
Of course, it would be even better if it didn’t lazily base its resolution on the death of an inconveniently situated girl, but, hey, you could say that about a lot of art.
