Whether or not Peril at Pincer Point is based on some sea shanty, it’s a wickedly fun film that nails the hero’s journey through a semi-Lovecraftian narrative. Here, Jim Baitte (Jack Redmayne) is an underappreciated film employee who specializes in foley. But instead of making these sounds up in a room, he goes out to capture every sound possible and remix it just right so his boss, P.W. Griffin (wonderfully played by Os Leanse), can use it in the next film. When he travels to a remote village whose livelihood depends on what the sea can deliver, little does he know there’s also a town curse placed upon all residents and visitors alike!
This film marks the debut of UK-based Jake Kuhn and Noah Stratton-Twine, and their first effort looks terrifically campy. They also decided to embrace the look of the classic monochromatic film era, tinged with a sepia tone, and presented in 4:3 aspect ratio to make the story as true to the era as possible. It’s a wonderful nod to those old pulp serials, and as for the effects, shiver me timbers, I’m sure there are some sea salts who’ll approve! Even when the dialogue gets a bit atypical, it hardly distracts from the normalcy our hero tries to live in.
To me, it seems the coming of sound in cinema is right around the corner, and that’s why he’s out there. The design of his recording deck looks authentic to the period. A piece of masking tape here and there, and lots of canisters. And if he can nail that right squeak, that’s no crow that’s cawing! Instead, it’s a crab that somehow made its way into his apartment. Although he tries to snatch it to throw away, it pinches him back on purpose, and that’s when the fun begins.
What’s amusing about this film is some obvious nods that few film enthusiasts will catch. P.W. Griffin is a nod to D. W. Griffith, and Leanse is comically perfect at parodying the legend. As for whether he’s a ghost of the golden age or representative of the future, I think I’ll need another viewing to figure out just where in time this story takes place. No, this film isn’t a full-on paranormal investigation, but when Baitte gets told there’s a dead man’s curse, not even Blackbeard is likely to come calling.
When this technician simply ignores all the warnings, which range from getting strange sounds overlaid on top of what he normally hears, there’s a mystery to solve. When he’s also recruited to help find a missing woman, that’s when this film develops a plot, and we’re watching him Scooby-Doo his way to an answer. Suffice to say, it’s easy to recognize how he’s a fish out of water in this world; Jim’s exchanges with Hollis (Stratton-Twine), the brother of the lass who disappeared, are the most entertaining. Even the Fat Plankton Herald (Andrew Upton) had some good moments!
The Peril at Pincer Point moves like an EC comic that knows how to play with the audience. And I could swear the directors purposely wanted some Lovecraftian-style moments, even though they land more comic than cosmic. This film isn’t meant to be a full-on tale of dread. Instead, like I said earlier, it moves like a sea shanty that one can repeat singing time and time again. And for those who saw this at Fantasia Film Festival, you may well have a few lingering questions. Is a thousand years too long? What about the captain? What’s presented may well be more like SpongeBob SquarePants with more supernatural trappings than jocular humour.
But am I telling ye the truth? You’d have to figure out if I’m also tossing ‘nother red herring so the surprise isn’t too much of a shock. Instead, you’d be dancing in yer shoes, be beggin’ the captain tis not the time to walk the plank. I’d be tellin’ ya, this here’s a film worth a watch, arr. Overall, this was a fun film to see, and yes, I think it’s time to watch all of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies again just so I can relearn how to say saaavy all over again.
4 Stars out of 5
The Peril at Pincer Point Movie Trailer
