Klokkenluider

2022

1 hr. 24 min.

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

List

92%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

A darkly comic, character-driven thriller following Ewan, a government whistleblower, and Silke, his forthright Flemish wife, as they are sent to a remote country house in west Belgium. Joined by two close protection officers, they await the arrival of a British journalist.

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Simonetta L

It seems I'm alone in finding it a bit trivial. Sinister, but in a comedic way until the end, which was spoiled by the synopsis. It was the only surprise we might have had. Coleman seemed excessively moronic, The minders, unbelievable clowns, with, I thought, some pretty inane lines. Silke was excellent, an interesting beauty and enjoyable to watch. Witty and sharp, she held up the whole film. Ewan too was watchable but on the whole, although I'm sure I'll be shot down in flames, I could have done better with an hour and a half.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Alan W

Actor-turned-writer/director Neil Maskell's debut is a dark comic thriller, which at a succinct 80mins, feels like there's a third reel missing or an idea more suited for a short film stretches out to almost feature length. The film's title translates into whistleblower and that's who Amit Shah's Ewan, an IT guy working at 10 Downing Street who stumbles onto something major, is. Hiding in a big house in a remote part of Belgium with his wife, Sura Dohnke's Silke, they await the arrival of a journalist who's going to break their story when two bickering bodyguards, lifted straight out of an old Tarantino (or perhaps Guy Ritchie) film, played by Tom Burke and Roger Evans, join them to keep them safe. This is yet another small budgeted single location Brit-flick with a small cast where the foreboding sense of tension is constantly being wretched up with an ominous score and claustrophobic cinematography and slick overhead drone shots which create an unsettling sense of them being under surveillance; so comes the inevitably ugly ending, it's hardly a surprise anymore. Practically a four-hander, until the appearance of Jenna Coleman in a memorably potty-mouthed cameo of sorts, this is one of those uneasy but talky film where we, along with the characters, are just waiting for something to happen. If not knowing what Ewan's big secret is, which is your typical McGuffin in a film like this, is going to bother you, then this isn't the film for you; but the artistic, and perhaps narratively easier, choice to do it this way is nicely executed with clever edits and sound effects that I find audacious and amusing. The way that what all this builds up to doesn't really pay off, however, bothers me much more.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

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Neil Maskell

Director

Amit Shah

Ewan

Sura Dohnke

Silke

Roger Evans

Glynn

Tom Burke

Chris

Jenna Coleman

Actor

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Hanna Flint

Empire Magazine

Klokkenluider gets off to a clunky start, but Maskell’s contained vision and keen eye for character results in an enjoyably curious effort, bolstered by spirited performances.

Rated: 3

Sep 3, 2023

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

The film owes a substantial debt to Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, especially when two bickering, gun-toting bodyguards arrive, delightfully played by Tom Burke and Roger Evans.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 1, 2023

Full Review

Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Dohnke is fiercely funny and moving, and at her most mesmerising during that nightmarish game of charades.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 1, 2023

Full Review

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

It's a very well-assembled little film, and its only weakness lies in how it remains so deliberately elusive.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 5, 2023

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Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

... An intriguing drama with streaks of black comedy and a vaguely Pinteresque air of menace.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 31, 2023

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Maria Lattila

WhyNow (UK)

Klokkenluider is an assured, confident debut for Maskell as a director. By no means perfect, but this is still an exciting beginning for his new career path.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 19, 2022

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Synopsis

A darkly comic, character-driven thriller following Ewan, a government whistleblower, and Silke, his forthright Flemish wife, as they are sent to a remote country house in west Belgium. Joined by two close protection officers, they await the arrival of a British journalist.

Director: Neil Maskell
Screenwriter: Neil Maskell
Genre: Comedy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English