Bait

2019

1h 29m

Drama

TRAILER

for Bait: Trailer 1

List

100%

39 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

Tension rises to the breaking point in a Cornwall fishing village when the local citizens are crowded out by tourists.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Jan 02

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Hulu

Watch Bait with a subscription on Hulu, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

As visually distinctive as it is narratively satisfying, Bait blends a classic aesthetic with timely themes to produce a thrillingly original and uniquely enriching drama.

Read Critics Reviews

Diana S

This is an objectively good movie in terms of style (which is retro and understated) and theme (the rich are perpetually problematic). The writing is eloquent, the acting tight. I didn't emotionally connect with it, overall, but it's probably just personal taste/cultural.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/23/23

Full Review

Jason R

A film that makes some very odd choices https://uberscaryblog.blogspot.com/2023/08/continuing-my-trip-up-guardians-top-50.html

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/10/23

Full Review

Wayne K

Arthouse films & I have had a turbulent relationship over the years. There's few things more annoying to me in cinema than an arthouse flick with nothing to say, but saying it in an obtuse, abstract way in order to appear profound and meaningful. Bait is a pretty interesting example of the phenomenon. More happens here than in some artsy films I've seen in the past. The conflict is clearly established, and we get to see it from both sides. It's a very common and pervasive theme being tackled, and its relatability gives it a solid footing in terms of narrative. What our lead Martin wants makes sense, and it's up to us to judge whether or not he's going about it the right way, and the grainy, cracked, black and white aesthetic serves to emphasis the bleak and insecure situation the lead finds himself in. I can very much understand most people not liking it as a movie experience. A story like this could easily be told with a straightforward approach, so the question I'm forced to ask is ‘What purpose does it serve to tell it in this manner? Would we have less sympathy for Martin if the movie was conventionally structured, if it was in colour, if the line delivery didn't feel so robotic and awkward, or if it didn't have random smash cuts, freezeframes and shots that are entirely silent? Maybe Mark Jenkin is just a man who likes to experiment and is endeavouring to find his own unique style that'll set him apart. Good luck to him, I say. He might not endear himself to many people, but at least his films will always stand out.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/24/23

Full Review

Kevin L

Cinema is first and foremost a visual medium. For all the brilliant screenplays, story lines, acting performances, scores, etc., cinema is a an art form that first deals with the effect of the visual. Jenkin seems to realize this by the way he structured this film. We see events before they happen, that foreshadow, that show events that my happen based on the actions of the moment. This is an impressive work. 3.6 stars

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Cool screen play and pictures.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

isla s

This seemed like a good film at first - I can certainly say the theme is quite contemporary and its a situation many people would likely be able to relate to, the furstration of locals trying to do their jobs while seemingly getting in the way of what normally would be out of town types who buy up local property. However, I'm not sure there are any real conclusions to the story and the plot didn't feel strong enough to really stay with me as a film that's memorable. I could understand the choice to make it in black and white - it does give it a bit of a classic type feel to it perhaps but lack of colour aside, you can tell its a contemporary film otherwise. Its a shortish film and not one that I'm likely to think much about but I guess its ok. No more than that. I wouldn't especially recommend this film, no.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Mark Jenkin

Director

Morgan Val Baker

Husband

Georgia Ellery

Katie Leigh

Martin Ellis

Billy Ward

Chloe Endean

Wenna Kowalski

Stacey Guthrie

Liz Stewart

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

81%

79%

The Old Oak

TRAILER

for The Old Oak

86%

88%

The Insult

TRAILER

for The Insult

66%

67%

New Order

TRAILER

for New Order

100%

%

The Noise of Engines

62%

67%

Silo

TRAILER

for Silo

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Awards Leaderboard: Top Movies of 2019

1917 Dominates 2020 BAFTA Awards With Seven Wins, Including Best Film and Best Director

Bait: Trailer 1

1:44

View more videos

View more photos

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

It's a genuine modern masterpiece, which establishes Jenkin as one of the most arresting and intriguing British film-makers of his generation.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 1, 2019

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

In one of the most extraordinary movie experiences of the year, this Cornish-set drama unfolds in scratchy monochrome and jumpy, jarring shots, mostly featuring weather-beaten fishermen, and lobster pots, and nets and boats.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 31, 2019

Full Review

Linda Marric

HeyUGuys

Mark Jenkin has given us a brilliantly original, intriguing and deeply engaging story which is sure to resonate with anyone who has spent any amount of time in Cornwall as a tourist or otherwise.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 30, 2019

Full Review

John Serba

Decider

There’s a level of affectation to Bait’s presentation suggesting… whatever you want it to suggest, I guess. Either way, it’s a hurdle to overcome on the way to feeling involved in this strangely engrossing class-divide drama.

Aug 9, 2023

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

...functions on a subliminal level.

Rated: 3/4

May 25, 2023

Full Review

Tom Beasley

VultureHound

Jenkin's movie, with its odd filmmaking quirks and time-bending editing, is a triumph of intelligent, insightful cinema.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 16, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Tension rises to the breaking point in a Cornwall fishing village when the local citizens are crowded out by tourists.

Director: Mark Jenkin
Screenwriter: Mark Jenkin
Production Co: Early Day Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Runtime: 1h 29m

Most Popular at Home Now