imperfection is perfection
Sporadic film reviews by a wanna-be filmmaker
54 DAYS [2014]
Originally written for:
Directed and Written by Tim R. Lea
Starring: Michela Carattini, Dianna La Grassa, Michael Drysdale, Gregory J. Wilken
This slab of sci-fi-tinged goodness is another recent addition to entries from last year like These Final Hours, The Rover, The Infinite Man and Predestination. Some kinks in the dialogue and some cliche-ridden moments might cause a small groan, but nothing is bad enough to detract from a well written, tense film. Cramped like a good submarine movie, we have five people locked in a fall-out shelter together. The movie doesn’t really go into what has happened on the surface, just that the world seems to be blown to bits. It reminds me of These Final Hours in its reverse apocalyptic approach, and also its ambiguous approach to an impending disaster. But that is the only similarity between the two Aussie flicks, as this becomes less and less sci-fi and more psychological thriller.
Not unlike These Final Hours it seems a simple plot synopsis does not do this justice. Upon reading it, it seems more than a little unfair, as it sounds like a very familiar movie. Biological weapons, a catastrophe on the surface with no idea as to what is happening. Yet another dystopian flick, right?
Wrong, as this film avoids using a typical narrative and has a constant sense of ambiguity. This is made apparent in the very first scene, as we start the film on a rooftop, at a party of some sort in good old Sydney-town. One gentleman is handing out business cards for his bomb shelters, which is our first indicator that the world isn’t quite as we know it today. The party doesn’t last long, as about ten minutes into the movie all mayhem breaks loose after the guests witness a building explode, followed by a sizable mushroom cloud. This latter sight is the catalyst for anarchy, as the friendly party turns into a fight for survival, each man fending for himself. Thanks to some innovative camerawork and a well-written scene, people start throwing themselves down a flight of stairs while fending away other party guests. This scene is absolutely chaotic, aided by the lack of a clear explanation – we don’t know these people, whether they left family or friends behind. After this excellent opening, we finally find ourselves at the shelter. Five people have finally reached the bottom of the stairs, the first fifteen minutes of riveting film ending with a bang. Much like a good book, 54 DAYS begins with action, there is no slow-burn build-up to be found here.
The intense first scene sets the story for us: five people stranded in a bomb shelter. Not unlike ROOM 1408, this is a film set in only two or three different rooms. Nick (Michael Drysdale) decides to take charge as the building was his uncle’s, he knows important details about the shelter. Built for two adults and two children, Nick approximates that the supplies in the shelter will last thirty days for five adults. Rationing begins and we jump ahead to day 15, the group not looking healthy as they slowly eat canned beans. Passive-aggressive behaviour seeps into the shelter as the inevitable conflict between five people in a tight space begins. Sides are taken, opinions are formed and are suddenly changed as each day passes. The psychological toll of the situation comes into the equation, as some pray, others cling to a wind-up radio hoping to hear from the outside world, and they all slowly become more childishly obsessed with a cockroach. The cockroach is an obvious metaphor, as the myth goes, they could survive a nuclear blast, but it is also utilised in an interesting way, almost functioning as a fly on the wall. This feeling is compounded by the choice of camera shots, as we see the room from the cockroaches’ perspective more than once.
The final act is truly gritty as personal truths are revealed and used as weapons. Suddenly a movie with ‘biological warfare’ in the tagline turns into a cramped psychological/survival thriller with a final act that felt impossible to predict and left me thinking for a good ten minutes. Not many films have that effect on me.
Shot on a typically low budget, not unlike the many local successes of last year, 54 DAYS uses its small location to its advantage. While this does reveal some clichéd character traits and some throwaway lines that feel very forced, the cramped quarters make for an immersive film that grabs you by the throat from the opening scene and doesn’t let go until its unpredictable, and again, ambiguous final act. The minor flaws apparent in some of the acting, dialogue, and the writing of the characters are easy to swallow given the unique narrative and its own spin on a post-apocalyptic scenario.
What would you do?
23 Comments on “54 DAYS [2014]”
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imperfection is perfection 
I loved These Final Hours and have really been digging Australian cinema lately so I will definitely be watching this soon. Great review! I’ll be back with my thoughts when I watch the movie.
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Look forward to hearing what you think. And that is great you got to see These Final Hours!! Our own films flop at the box office because superheroes take up all the screens, so its nice to hear someone abroad got to see it!
And starting around 2013 I think we have been churning out many strong films, with some like The Babadook and One Eyed Girl getting festival recognition. Glad you are a fan of our stuff, a lot of people think “oh great, its an Australian movie…”
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It’s too bad when great movies don’t get the recognition they deserve. I loved The Babadook and These Final Hours was brilliant. I haven’t seen One Eyed Girl but it looks like I should put that one on my list too.
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One Eyed Girl only just screened down here, hopefully it gets picked up by a major distributor. It sure as shit deserves it!
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Sounds good. You certainly watch a lot of interesting movies, Jordan.
Oh, and I watched Magnolia last night and thoroughly enjoyed it, Tom Cruise notwithstanding.
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Hehehe, yes Tom Cruise isn’t the most likable person. It was the writing more than his acting that made his character great IMO. Glad you liked it!
As for this flick, keep an eye out. Its an entertaining film from start to finish, and I love the ambiguity surrouding it. It leaves lots of questions unanswered, but that is what makes you think after the credits. I much prefer that approach than explaining everything and wrapping it up with a neat bow.
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I actually thought he played the part really well, so sleazy for the most part, I had a kind of fascination for the character, and liked it when we were enventually shown more depth. He reminded me of Matthew McConaughey in Magic Mike, which of course came later. And yes, I loved Magic Mike. That Channing Tatum is hot stuff and I like a good dance scene. 😉
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Hehe I don’t even know what Magic Mike is!
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Male stripper!
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Ahhh so that is why you are a fan hehehe
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To be honest I don’t usually like such things but Channing Tatum is a very good (and sexy) dancer. The film was based on his earlier life. 🙂
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Cool, this one sounds like a lot of fun. Nice find dude! 😀
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Hope stuff like this and Infini can stop people from sorta rolling their eyes when they hear a film is Australian.
Though… since I live here, I can’t really gauge how those abroad think about our cinema
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Jordan!!!! (AKA ball of awesome-ness) I have nominated you for the Dragon’s Loyalty award : )
http://emmakwall.com/2015/05/08/versatile-blogger-dragons-loyalty-awards/
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Awww you are awesome Em!! 🙂
PS – I’m transcribing the next chapters of The Archway Chronicles and the Room Without a Door 😀 Slowly getting there!
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You are awesome!!! We’re all bloody awesome! Haha : )
Excellent news!!!!! Well done you!!!!! I can’t wait to read : ) I’ve thought about that room without a door a fair few times since reading!!
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Hehe cool that must mean something good! Its my first attempt at pure fiction
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Definitely! It got in my head anyway 🙂
Pure fiction sounds fun, you can let your imagination go riot!!
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Yep totally, what I need to do is finish my rehab book, cos that is a lot of personal shit that I need to get out so my mind is clear to just start from nothing and build my own world.
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This sounds pretty good. Can’t wait to eventually see this one too.
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I liked it a lot. It certainly isn’t boring!!
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Hey Jordan – it’s Tim Lea here the writer and director of 54 Days. Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time and trouble to review our Indie feature – it’s people like you that make our tortuous and ridiculously competitive journey so worthwhile. We can’t compete with Hollywood head-on so we have to work on our craft to tell and execute interesting stories that engage and don;t have the Hollywood endings ….(I love European films especially French films and so love those endings that are different that you can’t see coming.) It’s supporters of Indie film like you that help us on our journey (all 116 people involved in the making of the movie)
Thanks again for your support and thanks to all the other commentators – really appreciate you showing support… and hopefully staying with us for the next project which is another healthily controversial thriller “Fallen Dove” about a guy who loses his wife and child to a suicide bomber and holds the spiritual leader responsible for “murder by proxy”….
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Hey Tim, thanks for stopping by! And you’re welcome 🙂 It sounds like we have a similar taste in film! I’m also a massive fan of French film and indie stuff, plus I really hate bog-standard genre films that have your typical Hollywood endings like you said. Your film has a great pace to it, and it certainly kept me guessing! And I loved the ending. It leaves so much room for thought.
Good stuff mate, and your next project sounds very interesting too!!
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