Anything written and acted by extreme performance artist David Hoyle was going to be an acquired taste. Given what appears to be a free reign, Hoyle's eccentric 'fly on the wall' style takes a while to get used to, but is worth the initial trepidation. The trepidation being - at least in my case, watching this - you truly do not know what you are getting into.
So, what is this? A doomed love/horror story of Hoyle's Uncle David and young, softly spoken Ashley, played by pornographic actor Ashley Ryder. It seems initially that the two men meeting for a break in a static caravan by the sea is little more than a platform for Hoyle's philosophies on life, society and conformism. And then it becomes apparent that Ashley may well be dying. This appears to be treated with a calm assurance by the two, with Hoyle assuring Ashely of his 'ascension into the stratosphere'.
Among Hoyle's many profundities - some of which I whole-heartedly agree with, and others I do not (but who cares what I think??) - is the condemnation of 'control freaks' throughout society. And yet it appears that it is Uncle David who is gently persuading his young childlike 'nephew' that his imminent demise is a good, even beautiful thing; this is a powerful statement as he is orchestrating the passive Ashley into a mutually agreed suicide. Although having said that, Ashley has said that he wanted to die.
The location is beautifully used - the down-to-earth majesty of a British seaside town, with its stretching beach and horizons contrasting with the cardboard-like homeliness of the holiday home to allow for a fascinating backdrop. Whilst Ryder could be said to be underplaying his role, Hoyle is a captivating character. His viewpoints on, well, everything may be hard to hear at times, but they are never boring.
"The closer we are to oblivion, the happier we are."
So, what is this? A doomed love/horror story of Hoyle's Uncle David and young, softly spoken Ashley, played by pornographic actor Ashley Ryder. It seems initially that the two men meeting for a break in a static caravan by the sea is little more than a platform for Hoyle's philosophies on life, society and conformism. And then it becomes apparent that Ashley may well be dying. This appears to be treated with a calm assurance by the two, with Hoyle assuring Ashely of his 'ascension into the stratosphere'.
Among Hoyle's many profundities - some of which I whole-heartedly agree with, and others I do not (but who cares what I think??) - is the condemnation of 'control freaks' throughout society. And yet it appears that it is Uncle David who is gently persuading his young childlike 'nephew' that his imminent demise is a good, even beautiful thing; this is a powerful statement as he is orchestrating the passive Ashley into a mutually agreed suicide. Although having said that, Ashley has said that he wanted to die.
The location is beautifully used - the down-to-earth majesty of a British seaside town, with its stretching beach and horizons contrasting with the cardboard-like homeliness of the holiday home to allow for a fascinating backdrop. Whilst Ryder could be said to be underplaying his role, Hoyle is a captivating character. His viewpoints on, well, everything may be hard to hear at times, but they are never boring.
"The closer we are to oblivion, the happier we are."