Feedback

Feedback is a film of merciless intrigue and suspense that unfolds within the confined setting of a radio station. This British film, directed by Pedro C. Alonso, was released in 2019 and features a star-studded cast including the talented Eddie Marsan, formidable Paul Anderson and versatile Ivana Baquero.

Eddie Marsan, well-praised for his roles in films like Sherlock Holmes and Happy Go Lucky, takes centerstage as Jarvis Dolan, a resolute and popular London radio host known for his daring journalism. Jarvis is popular for his controversial talk show, “The Grim Reality”, which has earned him a significant number of admirers but an equal amount of adversaries due to his fearless approach in tackling social and political issues.

Afflicted by his tumultuous past but committed to his journalistic integrity, Jarvis experiences a new epoch of his routine radio show when his radio station is taken over by two masked attackers. The suspense kicks up a notch when these violent intruders force Jarvis to continue his live broadcast, but this time, following a script of their choosing. With the threat of lethal consequences hanging over his head, Jarvis is led into a cat and mouse game while his station becomes the stage for terror unleashed.

Paul Anderson, widely recognized for his role as Arthur Shelby in the popular TV series Peaky Blinders, plays a significant role within the tension-filled storyline. The details around his character and the part he plays in the threats against Jarvis are masterfully masked, ensuring that Anderson's involvement only fuels the anticipation and intrigue.

Pan's Labyrinth star, Ivana Baquero, is a noteworthy addition to the cast, bringing a unique intensity that compliments the overall tone of the film. Her nuanced performance only deepens the mystery surrounding the chilling events unfolding within the radio station.

Feedback is an atmospheric thriller, where the ominous confinement of the radio station adds an all-encompassing sense of dread that heightens the suspense. The film effectively adopts the claustrophobic nature of the environment to exemplify the escalating tension and constant threat that looms over the protagonist.

Pedro C. Alonso skillfully directs this story, ensuring that the terror created isn't dependent on jump-scares, but instead rooted in the psychological fear associated with a lack of control, amplified isolation, and perpetual anticipation of the unknown. Alonso is effective in setting a movie with restrained physical locale, yet with a narrative that travels through a labyrinth of terror, truth, and suspense.

The screenplay by Alberto Marini brings together elements of thrill, mystery, and crime, interspersed with relentlessly building suspense throughout the narrative. The villains' motives are smartly veiled, causing viewers to share Jarvis's dread and confusion, while still attempting to unravel the hidden agenda behind the home invasion.

The title 'Feedback' alludes to the cyclic journey of the story's action and reaction but also effectively represents the volatile interplay of power, control, fear, and resistance between the characters. The whole film is essentially a dialogue - a terrifying communication, under deadly circumstances, between the protagonist forced into a corner, and antagonists obscured behind their menacing motives.

Feedback, a film that combines the horror of the situation with the underlying dread of the unknown, is a thorough psychological thriller. It lures the audience into a web of suspense, leaving them hanging on every transmission, establishing itself as an unsettling and disturbing addition to the genre. Through the deft performances of Eddie Marsan, Paul Anderson, and Ivana Baquero, expert direction, and a taut script, Feedback delivers a thrill ride that will leave you biting your nails, long after the credits roll.