Film Reviews

Rewind

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Allen Leech
• Details: IRELAND/TBC 15A

A tight and efficient thriller with a wonderful lead performance from Amy Huberman, Rewind takes its time letting you get to know its characters, before slowly bleeding crucial backstory. Credit to cinematographer-turned-helmer PJ Dillon for having the self-assurance to build the atmosphere to boiling point before revealing hidden agendas. This could easily have turned in Cape Fear 2.0. and although its conclusion is clunky, you'll have been on edge long enough for it to be forgivable.
Huberman is a suburban Mum of one, Karen - a content woman with a chequered past she thought was behind her. Karen has a perfect husband and beautiful daughter, and lives a comfortable existence, but when she bumps into a man from her past, her life is turned on its head. Allen Leech's slightly unhinged Karl is out of jail after several years behind bars for committing a crime she was involved in, and its payback time. But Karl's motivations are blurred, and Karen can't simply pay him off.
Huberman deservedly picked up IFTA for her turn as the vulnerable but tough one-time party girl, and her performance is strong enough that you don't need to know an awful lot about Karen to buy the character. She's played with a hint of working class, but the exterior is well-groomed money. The former Clinic star has the looks and the ability to go far should bigger roles come knocking, and on the evidence of this they surely will.
With the exception of Karen and Karl there is very little character expansion, but admittedly, that's not what Rewind is about. Her husband needed to maybe be a bit bland; a direct contradiction of the exciting but dangerous existence she leaded before they met. However, the catalyst for the climax is built on the kind of blinding coincidence that can't help but distract. When proceedings finally settle it feels rushed, and there's little in the way of explanation. For Huberman's character, you get that, but the husband never goes beyond "I love my wife," so it's more of a challenge to accept his unflinching actions.
Whatever about its flaws, there's no doubting that for the most part, Rewind is a winning thriller. And for a country that has produced so many A-list male movies stars, it's about time we had a lady hit similar pay dirt - step forward Amy Huberman.

Review by Mike Sheridan