Spyhole (2002) User Reviews (2)

Unconvincing

[Theo Robertson · 4/10 · 16 October 2005]

This short film left me rather confused . Bill Miller sees his his next door neighbours having a good hard snog . Fair enough but when the story switches to the neighbours going on holiday and they have left Bill and his wife Angela the key to their flat so that the Millers can feed the cat while they're away , this confused me . You see the neighbours either know or at least trust the Millers well enough to leave them the keys to their flat but the opening scene somehow doesn't feel right since Bill and the neighbours don't acknowledge each other on the stairway

Actually that's my main problem with the entire set up of this short - the relationship between the Millers and their neighbours is so vague as to be totally unconvincing . How well do they know each other ? Put it like this: If you were going on holiday and you needed someone to feed your pet who would your choice be ? the people living nearest to you or the people you trusted more than anyone else in the world ? Exactly . You wouldn't want vague associates tramping through your house in case they get up to no good and that's what the Millers do

So I wasn't impressed Jodhi May's short film SPYHOLE because the entire set up is unconvincing though to be fair it's rare to see a short film with an easily recognisable actor namely David Morrissey in it

A curious look at a spark that reignites sexual excitement

[bob the moo · 19 April 2005]

A couple live a grey, rather dull life in their flat; emotion and passion has long since gone from their relationship. However a chance voyeuristic encounter with the neighbours in the flat opposite sparks both their curiosity and, while looking after their neighbours flat while they are on holiday, the husband cannot help but fixate over the rooms opposite and soon they find themselves with an unspoken desire that exists outside of their relationship.

The plot of this film sees a grey and lifeless couple finding their sexual tensions revived when they witness some curious and sensual activity in the flat opposite. Neither talk to the other about it but their edginess gives it away and it seems to bring back their sensuality. Of course this isn't a total cure to their relationship and we still see their distance and cold history playing a part in their relationship. The film develops this well and the direction is clever; in an obvious move perhaps, the couples flat is cold and sterile while the neighbours is colourful and full of warm, deep colours – looking much more inviting for it. However the direction is also clever in terms of the shots – the ones in the cold flat are static and simple whereas the other flat sees them moving slowly, lingering and matching the movement of the characters. It may not be the passionate story you want, or take it to a conclusion that is totally satisfying but what it does do it does well and it is worth seeing for that.

The two leads are good value and play well on their rediscovered intimate feelings while also maintaining the distance that time has taught them to have. They match the direction and perform well with quite little dialogue to work with. The end result is a small film that only has one focus and may not satisfy everyone but was interesting and engaging to me for what it did well.