High-Rise (2016) Review

Directed by Ben Wheatley and starring Tom Hiddleston, High-Rise is a drama thriller set in an alternate dystopian reality.

High-Rise has a timeless essence with its '70s styling mixed with colourful characters and then captured into the setting of a 40 story tower-block. 
The film follows Dr. Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) after moving in on the 25th floor of the High-Rise and attempts to blend in with the other tenants of the building. The other tenants take interest in Laing and soon he's caught in the midst of chaos as the lower floor tenants are rebelling against the richer higher floor tenants.
Containing imagery normally found in psychological movies, High-Rise shows an understanding of mentality these edgy characters possess. The only long shots used were to show the high-rise and how secluded it is from the outside world. Inside the building the shots remain closer, exaggerating the confined lifestyle.
Composed by Clint Mansell, the score is a combination of  classical and psychological with a touch of chilling to spark a thought of something sinister happening. High-Rise also contains two versions of ABBA's SOS, an orchestral rendition used in a party scene which adds a rather dark atmosphere to the scene and a cover by Portishead which is used brilliantly with its slow and almost morbid tones.
Acting from everyone is sublime from Keeley Hawes and James Purefoy to Jeremy Irons. Not once do they miss a beat as their characters are thrust into more turmoil and drama. The gravitas brought into the scenes from so many great performances is not frequently found in film and so it becomes captivating to watch.
The plot has an elegant pacing as everything starts to unravel but once we get to a midpoint climax, the film becomes almost trapped in its story. There is nothing new it can offer us as the plot plays out. Fortunately the performances I referred to earlier keep you sustained and just waiting for more although it refuses to deliver that craving of more.
High-Rise is definitely thrilling for the most part but loses it in the mix of its none progressing plot. Everything else is there in the visuals, the score and the characters but the story has cut off the thrills and ultimately cut down its rating.

Mr. Cynic is Rating this a 6.5/10