Phobia
Director: Louis Cuschieri
Starring: Ray Abdilla, Peter Galea, Veronica Farrugia
107mins; Class 12;
KRS Releasing Ltd
That I have reached the point where I dread having to review Maltese-produced films reflects poorly on our fledgling industry.
It is a sad fact that the bar has, in a general manner, always been so low. And it is a bar that seems to get even lower, as can be attested by the latest evidence presented in Phobia.
Produced by Bronk Productions, Phobia stars Ray Abdilla as Jack Dalmas, a hotel magnate of Maltese origins who built his empire in the US before moving back to Malta.
Not a single redeeming feature
The script by Louis Cuschieri, who also directs, is rife with blatant clichés and many overwrought and – conversely – underwritten scenes.
There are ridiculous plot devices with holes you can drive a truck through, plus a final story development worthy of the soapiest opera. The characters are one-dimensional and thinly developed. That Jack fought in the Vietnam War is plausible in and of itself. But despite, the hurried explanation that he spent much of his youth in the US, where he also went on to amass a fortune, does little to add authenticity to the character.
The characters’ penchant of throwing in a few words in English here and there – presumably a device to illustrate their American background – simply strikes many a false note.
As for the performances themselves – well, there was little the actors could do with the poor dialogue. Yet, much they could have been done to avoid the really bad habit of declaiming their lines with little genuine emotion.
They are not helped by the persistent use of lingering close-ups and dramatic pauses; nor by the shoddy lighting which, at times, makes them look like they’ve spent too much time on a tanning bed.
It is the easiest thing to fire off a scathing review of something like this; much harder to offer constructive criticism especially given the film has not a single redeeming feature.
Which begs the question: is it possible that none of the film-makers realise that their product is of sub-par quality? Aren’t there enough excellent productions out that inspire them to aim higher?
I have no doubt that Phobia will perform well, for there seems to be an audience for this kind of movie. Bronk’s production Qerq spend ten weeks in cinemas in 2007. But surely even the most loyal audiences deserve much better.