HORROR FILM REVIEW: THE JOGGER

Kevin Doherty via magic toaster productions presents a very short film a little over 23 minutes, and to be completely honest when almost 5 minutes is taken up by the intro I wasn't really expecting much from the rest of it. This is a highly minimalist film, there are five off-camera voices on either radio or telephone conversations, and only two actors whom you actually see and one of those you only see fleetingly. This means that almost the entire focus of the film is on Dan Baker-Moor as Mr Bennett the titular jogger.

Bennett starts his day as usual, all very humdrum and ordinary, against the advice of his doctor he goes jogging daily in the early hours when all is dark and peaceful, on this day however things are wildly different. There are times when you have a potty emergency, something that just won't wait, We've all been there, right! Whilst jogging Bennett is taken short, so heads for the nearest public convenience to relieve himself, which initially goes according to plan until someone else enters the conveniences and bangs on the door of Bennett's cubicle. Bennett, slightly annoyed at the intrusion on his sacred duty declares the cubicle occupied and the stranger takes the next cubicle, the stranger then proceeds to drop his guts so consistently noisily that Bennett struggles to hold back his laughter, ultimately failing to do so.

The stranger finishes his 'business' and leaves, returning a moment later with tools which he uses to seal Bennett into the cubicle. What follows is a protracted and sadistic attack on Bennett by his still unseen assailant. Staging the majority of the film within the toilet cubicle adds an intense claustrophobic effect to Bennett's terror which works exceptionally well, the conscious choice to leave the assailant anonymous is praiseworthy as most productions these days focus more on the monster/attacker than on the victims.

Dan Baker-Moor is excellent, and the crew involved in shooting this pulled off what I would consider to be a rather difficult task in what appeared to be a very real location shoot. Kevin Doherty can rest assured his roles as writer and director were time well spent. I won't avoid Kevin Doherty's productions in the future, but will certainly try to avoid using public toilets again.

REVIEWED BY JOE YOUNG