By Romey Norton August 6, 2024
From writer and director Moin Hussain comes the unconventional sci-fi drama, Sky Peals. The plot is simple, and with the film's slow but steady pace, you may find yourself questioning where the story is going, but in this case, that’s the beauty of the film. It trusts you to sit back, listen and be taken on a journey.
Synopsis
The film tells the story of alienation in modern Britain as we follow quiet and shy Adam who works the night shift in a burger restaurant motorway service station. Adam lives a mundane and isolated life with. After the death of his estranged father, and being abandoned by his mother, Adam begins to believe he’s from an alien race and sets on his quest for self-discovery.
Review
The cinematography is dark and gloomy, with many browns and blues, creating a dystopian atmosphere. Adam is an interior character, who speaks very little. The film uses visuals and sound to convey what Adam is thinking and feeling. There are times there is no sound, and the film moves from being still to then blaring car horns. Sky Peals is shot on 35mm film, something that isn’t done regularly these days, helping capture the colour, graininess, and light.
There are some beautifully stylised shots and sequences - almost avant-garde, especially in the service station. I enjoyed how it looks like a spaceship, and with Adam slowly losing all her material possessions, including his house, this spaceship becomes his home.
Actor Faraz Ayub is excellent in his portrayal as Adam. His performance is extremely natural, and does well in giving nothing away whilst giving you everything you need to keep invested. You’re constantly trying to work him out, what he’s going to do next, and you’ll feel sorry and confused for him. This allows you to make up your own mind about what the film means and stands for.
Amongst many themes, the ones that stand out the most are the themes of racial and cultural identity; with which many audiences will be able to identify. Adam is mixed-race, born to a white English mother and a father from Pakistan. Throughout the film Adam is lost and confused, reflecting a modern Britain where the identity crisis is high, and many are left feeling alienated and merely existing rather than living. Sky Peals also delves into themes of grief, neurodiversity, mental and physical illness, relationships, family and self-exploration.
My favourite scene is one between Adam and his grandmother, she speaks to Adam as if he’s her son (his dad), giving him permission to leave. Adam says he’s not going anywhere - a moment where there is a real shift in Adam and his choices going forward.
The ending is nice and sweet, filled with hope. Not a direction I thought it was going to go in. It’s interesting to see a film opt for a kind ending, rather than death and destruction. Some things are left unsaid, and feel incomplete, but this allows for the audience to make up their mind as to what will happen to Adam next.
Sky Peals is unsettling and effective in its story through its compelling action and stylized shots. With a runtime of 90 minutes, this quirky sci-fi film is worth investing your time in.
Star Rating
Also, if you’re from West Yorkshire, Wakefield specifically, you might notice a familiar shopping centre as the Sky Peals primary filming location.
Sky Peals releases in select cinemas August 9
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