Here's my thought process through watching Filth. 'This is so funny! This is going to be such a laug...oh...oh jesus...wow...just...what?'. It's dark, super intense and I don't think my head could handle a repeat viewing in the immediate future. But Filth was certainly original and actually a hell of a good film.
James McAvoy plays an Edinburgh policeman who is after a promotion and then proceeds to go totally insane in the process. And boy do we go on that journey into madness with him. Scenes happen at random here and there which are partly explained as the film goes on but are still very jarring when you see them at first. When I found myself slipping out of being totally fixed to Filth I couldn't help but look around at my fellow cinema-goers who all had a similar confused expression on their face and just thinking 'what the hell is going on here'.
It does work though. It's creepy shocking imagery gets into your head and it's as if you're going just as mad as McAvoy's character. You're slowly drip-fed his back story as well which gives a satisfying insight to what has caused this psychotic episode to happen.
But it's a comedy right? Well it is in parts and when it is it's jet black. The first 10 minutes set it up to be a surreal Mighty Boosh style event but then the moments of random humour start to become few and far between as the themes of Filth become more troubling.
There's plenty of British talent on offer here and I was recognizing actors from here there and everywhere either as cameos or full characters. I often feel when any media comes from Scotland it comes off very unprofessional and cheesy but Filth is the big exception here. It's stylish as anything and the acting is top notch. To steal a line right off a review featured on the poster - McAvoy indeed gives the performance of his career. He's on a role at the moment. Trance was great and so is Filth albeit not quite as interesting.
It's a unique and intense journey but maybe the story could have been more stable. It's great that the story of McAvoy's character is almost told backwards but it does leave the viewer confused for quite a long part of the film. There's enough twists and reveals in Filth to keep it entertaining and clever but maybe some of the story telling could have been more conventional.
I think Filth is the closest thing to Trainspotting that has happened since...well Trainspotting so if you could handle and enjoyed that you'll most likely enjoy this. Be warned however- it's not the wacky Scottish comedy it's been made out to be in trailers and on posters. Filth is twisted and intense but is a darkly unique experience I'll remember for a long while.
8/10
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