Aaaaaaaah!

Aaaaaaaah! is a bold and unconventional film released in 2015, directed by Steve Oram. This original and controversial project stars Oram himself alongside Tom Meeten and Julian Rhind-Tutt. With a supporting cast that includes Toyah Willcox, Julian Barratt, and Noel Fielding among others, it's a film that makes its mark with an outsider, almost experimental attitude towards storytelling and cinema.

The film plunges the viewer into a distinct world that ingeniously mirrors contemporary society, while adopting a daring narrative structure. This is a feature-length film where the characters communicate exclusively in non-verbal and severely primal ways and are guided by their raw animal instincts. However, they live in a world that is undeniably modern, strewn with suburban houses, electronics, and supermarkets. Oram, who is also the scriptwriter, does not resort to subtitles or any form of translated dialogue to accommodate the audience. Instead, he uses pidgin sign language, a unique version of body language, and grunts and growls to communicate, entrusting the interpretation to the viewer.

Taking the societal mirror concept to a higher degree, the film interestingly explores human behavior by proposing a world where humans have devolved to a point where our primal urges govern every interaction. There's a dominance hierarchy, rival factions, sexual tensions, and territorial wars. However, these primal interactions are juxtaposed with an otherwise modern setting making the film a rather thought-provoking satire that questions the thin line separating humans from animals.

Much of the film is focused on two male characters, played by Oram and Meeten. They find themselves navigating this constantly-shifting power structure within the social landscape. They establish relations, challenge the status quo, and exert their dominance against the backdrop of a suburban community. The specifics of their objectives remain ambiguous, fostering a sense of intrigue and surprising humor throughout the film.

The performances across the board are somewhat extraordinary. The cast fully commit to their roles, communicating a myriad of emotions, narratives, and relationships without uttering a single comprehensible word. Their task of establishing meaningful connections through grunts, gestures, and physical actions was immense, but they truly shine, demonstrating the power of non-verbal communication.

The film pushes the boundaries of conventional aesthetics further with its choice of visuals and sound. With gritty cinematography that adds a layer of rawness, and clever sound design that accentuates the severity of the primal engagements, the film offers a multi-sensorial experience. It may not appeal to every viewer, given its bold approach, but it's certainly an experiment that deserves recognition.

Furthermore, Aaaaaaaah! offers biting social commentary. By reducing humans to their animal instincts while maintaining their urban surroundings intact, it satirizes societal norms, conventions and hierarchies. It's a somewhat uncomfortable, but poignant reminder of the beastly origins that linger beneath the complex web of politeness and civilization that we consider as normalcy.

While the film's graphic content, lifelike portrayal of animalistic behavior and the absence of conventional dialogue may not be to everyone’s taste, there is no denying that it is an innovative feat in filmmaking. It intentionally pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling, making the audience work to derive meaning from the interactions on screen.

To summarize, Aaaaaaaah! is a highly original and unabashedly audacious cinematic experience, that punctuates the fact that cinema can indeed be boundary-pushing and rule-defying. Oram has crafted a world that is both eerily familiar and brutally alien at the same time, making this film a truly memorable experience. As a satire, a piece of social commentary, or a study in primal behavior, Aaaaaaaah! succeeds in creating a unique experience ripe with intrigue and thought-provoking themes. However, it is vital to approach the film with an open mind to fully appreciate its originality and inherent message. Aaaaaaaah! is a fascinating journey into the wild side of human nature, a brazen experiment in non-verbal storytelling, and a truly unique film that's certainly not to be missed by those seeking something off the beaten path.