Hallam Foe

Directed by: David Mackenzie
Starring: Jamie Bell, Sophia Myles, Ciarán Hinds, Jamie Sives, Maurice Roëves, Ewen Bremner, Claire Forlani
Certificate: 18
Running time: 95mins

Hallam Foe (Jamie Bell) is haunted by his mother’s death. Was it suicide or was she murdered to make way for his father’s new wife? Living in his treetop den in the Scottish Highlands, where he has created a 6ft shrine for his dead mum, he spies on people and records everything in his diaries.

He particularly likes to spy on his stepmother Verity (Claire Forlani) as he has become obsessed with her guilt. Oh, and he likes to wear his dead mum’s dress, use her makeup as some sort of war paint and pop a dead badger on his head as part of his “spy outfit”.

Anyway, the seductive Verity confronts Hallam in his den and he runs away to the mean streets of Edinburgh. Alone and penniless, he spots Kate (Sophia Myles), a hotel personnel bod who looks just like his mum. He follows her to work and talks himself into a job, where he can keep a closer eye on her.

Using his well developed spying skills (and outfit), he monitors Kate from his new den, which looks straight into her apartment. Negotiating the rooftops of Edinburgh, Hallam follows her around and watches her every movement until his secret is finally revealed.

This was an interesting film to review. The script was fine, it was well acted and directed, and there was some fabulous camera work – the rooftop scenes in Edinburgh and the Highlands are particularly well shot.

But it’s the subject matter and stride that jarred. It’s ultimately the tale of a disturbed stalker and the pace is so slow in parts that it becomes boring. Try as you might to empathise with his dirty secrets, Hallam Foe is an obsessed peeping tom with a fetish for a girl who looks like his dead mum.

This was a brave choice for Jamie Bell, his first starring role since 'Billy Elliot'. I wouldn’t recommend it to my mates for a Friday night cinematic outing, but if it sounds like your cup of tea, go for it.

  Sarah Benedek