PITCH BLACK HEIST

Directed By John Maclean

2012

The short film, Pitch Black Heist documents two men prepping for a heist of a bank, and eventually proceeding with it. The film takes place in three distinct locations;

The Warehouse

The Urban Outside

The Pub

Initially, the film is set in the warehouse. The men are being briefed in regards to the heist. the men are then told to await instructions, so to pass time, they go to the pub. Several hours pass and they eventually become tipsy – this leads to an exchange in life stories and their early experiences, it turns out they share some similarities. The heist takes place in warehouse, which just so happens to have a light activated alarm, therefore having to have a pitch black heist.

NARRATIVE TWIST

Michael leaves Liam in the warehouse, after lighting a cigarette, he sets the alarm off and leaves him in there.

THEORIES AND EXPLANATIONS

“ain’t got no ma, aint got no pa”

Early on the short film, Michael explains some of his early childhood issues, his dad waled out on him and his mum when he was young, his mother never recovering .

Through connection of comments and events, it can be found that Liam is his dad, and uses the heist as a way to convict and have him arrested in return for leaving him and his mother.

OPINIONS

In my opinion, I found this short film extremely enjoyable. Its use of witty, cynical humour mixed in with the raw emotion caused by a dysfunctional family. Specific shots such as the scene outside the pub, as they share a cigarette, which uses a tracking shot to control the dialogue, create such a raw atmosphere which could only be created through British filmography. the use of black and white colouring means the focus is on the two main characters. the black could represent the evil within Liam, and Michael too as some may argue that what he did was cruel. and the white could represent the good within the film, how Michael was trying to make Liam pay for what he did.

Overall, I would watch this film again. It was an easy to watch film, had a simple yet well-developed narrative which still caused the viewer to actively think about what was going on.

7/10