THE GROUP (2022)

3 stars

Reel2Reel Films. Out Now. Digital

THE GROUP is one of those single setting suspense thrillers which puts a disparate bunch of people in danger. This time out we are in a community centre – a meeting for addicts is taking place, the kind where they sit in a circle and share their stories.

Our main character is Kara (Evangelina Burton), who turns up to Addicts Anonymous Together for the first time in ages, after recently relapsing. She joins her fellow addicts Seth (Luke Dayhill), Henry (Tom Coulson), Charley (Jennifer Aries), cop Dave (Mike Nelson) and Eddy (Nobuse ‘Jnr’ Uwaifo) plus counsellor Ellen (Alicia Novak). Their various characteristics are quickly sketched in by writer/director William Higo. There are tension within the gathering – but things really go Pete Tong when Jack (Dylan Baldwin) bursts into the room with a gun and takes charge. Why is he there and what is his connection to the people there?

This is a tautly made horror thriller which is efficiently told within it’s short run time with mostly believable characters. The direction is good considering the limitations of the claustrophobic setting with a strong central performance by the interloper. However, it is all a bit bleak and ultimately feels a bit unsatisfactory.

Steve Kirkham