Director Ben Wheatley returns with a delightfully eccentric and thought-provoking slice of British science fiction in his new film, 'Bulk'. Operating with a modest budget, Wheatley crafts a tale that marries retro aesthetics with contemporary existential questions, anchored by the charismatic performances of real-life married couple Sam Riley and Alexandra Maria Lara.
A Journey into Dreamlike Unreality
The film plunges us into a world of tongue-in-cheek paranoia and shifting realities. Sam Riley stars as a tough investigative journalist who finds himself drugged and kidnapped. He is taken to a seemingly ordinary suburban house in Sussex, which is revealed to be the childhood home of the reclusive multibillionaire he was meant to profile, played by Mark Monero.
This oligarch has created a revolutionary device called the 'Brain Collider' – a machine akin to the Large Hadron Collider but condensed to the size of a front room, designed to unravel the universal mysteries of consciousness. The house becomes a portal, launching Riley's character into either the vast intergalactic beyond or the infinite landscape of the mind.
Charmingly Lo-Fi Aesthetics and Influences
Wheatley's approach is knowingly retro and full of personality. The film is shot in striking monochrome, employing Dutch angles and looming close-ups that evoke the styles of filmmakers like John Frankenheimer. The director's love for classic sci-fi is worn proudly on its sleeve, with clear nods to shows like Space: 1999 – a reference explicitly listed among the mountain of pop culture credits shown in Wheatley's own handwriting.
The production relishes its quirky, lo-fi special effects, utilising elements like Airfix models to create its cosmic vistas. This, combined with comic-book dialogue that has been deliberately re-recorded, gives 'Bulk' a distinct, dreamlike sheen of unreality. The film is a self-indulgent and often funny ride, with its occasional slower moments buoyed by its engaging leads.
An Engaging Cosmic Duo
Once inside this bizarre reality, Riley's journalist encounters an elegant and mysterious woman, portrayed by Alexandra Maria Lara. Her role is ambiguous – she could be a guide, a friend, or a formidable enemy within the cosmic 3D madness. Lara's deadpan drollery provides a compelling counterpoint to Riley's bewildered reporter, making their dynamic consistently watchable.
Noah Taylor also features as the snarling underling responsible for the journalist's unconventional arrival. The film asks its audience to embrace its inherent jauntiness and zaniness, forgiving some laborious stretches for the sake of its bigger, weirder ambitions.
'Bulk' is a testament to creative filmmaking that prioritises ideas over budget. It is set to premiere at The Nickel in London on 15 January, followed by a tour, offering UK audiences a chance to experience Wheatley's uniquely off-kilter and charmingly handmade vision of multiversal mystery.
