DVD Movie Review | The Library Suicides (Lights, Camera, Action!)

The Library Suicides (UK Rating: 15)

From the beginning, it's very clear the viewer is out of the loop. There is clearly a puzzle piece you won't see, but the movie feels like it's incredibly impatient. Things would be much more shocking if it didn't assume you knew everything, or at least it comes off that way. Poignant revelations are condensed into one small section, but by the time they come around, you're left either disappointed or apathetic.

The plot follows two girls (twins, both played by Doctor Who star, Catrin Stewart) seeking revenge, but it's unclear why they would be seeking revenge for their mother's suicide. The stoner clearly has an interesting back story, but this is relegated to the background as a mere talking point. It's the film's equivalent of saying "Mary can't do that, remember what happened last time" over and over, but never revealing what happened last time. The man seeking answers (night porter Dan, played by Dyfan Dwyfor) clearly has the most to reveal, but he spends a lot of the film snivelling and hiding.

This isn't to say there's nothing of value here, though. The acting is surprisingly adept, and the set pieces lend to an incredible amount of tension. The cast is truly the saving grace, as no matter how lost the plot seems to get, or how many loose strands are introduced, the acting just about manages to hold everything together. While not enough time is spent exploring the stoner's past, he manages to be a solid voice of reason throughout. The sisters are truly sympathetic, and the man in search of answers is worthy of empathy.

4/10

Subpar

The Library Suicides is the kind of movie that builds tension but misses the chance to fulfil its potential for being a taught thriller. Some might well find it worth watching, but only if hopes are kept relatively low to avoid too much disappointment. For how good the actors perform, the revenge story they are telling doesn't actually make a lot of sense, yet the director strings the audience along like there's something deeper hiding within. Spoiler alert: there's not.