Errors of the Human Body is most definitely a strange and almost indefinable film. On one hand it has a horror vibe going on, and on the other a distinctly sci fi feel all round. And having said that, it goes a lot deeper emotionally than either of those genres… so is perhaps something else entirely. A terrifying trip into one scientist’s worst nightmare perhaps, after the death of his young son drives him mad with frustration.
Errors of the Human Body is most definitely a strange and almost indefinable film. On one hand it has a horror vibe going on, and on the other a distinctly sci fi feel all round. And having said that, it goes a lot deeper emotionally than either of those genres… so is perhaps something else entirely. A terrifying trip into one scientist’s worst nightmare perhaps, after the death of his young son drives him mad with frustration.
It’s the sad, emotion-riddled story of geneticist Dr Geoff Burton (Michael Eklund), who is obsessively struggling to find a cure for the rare genetic ailment that killed his infant son years before. Though brilliant and a star in his field, his obsessions and often-unorthodox working methods have left the great man’s career in a shambles, forcing him to relocate to Germany to continue his work.
It explores the horrors that unfold when he is driven almost to the point of madness in his quest to answer the myriad theories flying about in his head, and is certainly an interesting watch – if uncomfortable at times.
And while it is very much a fictional story that revolves around science, the science in this film – shot on location at the real life Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics – is all as real as can be. It has been discussed in depth by scientists who have enjoyed the plotline almost as much as the scientific questions it poses - call it a scientific thriller, if you will, but with all of the science grounded firmly in reality.
The pretty damn dramatic plot is accompanied throughout by ominous, well-chosen music, whilst the inclusion of high-energy party and fight scenes, and the bizarre appearance of the movie’s antagonist make it never a dull watch. The film is entertaining, and director Eron Sheean manages to capture some true aspects of life as a scientist, even amidst the story’s many wild tangents and Burton’s almost-inconceivable theories. And the film definitely doesn’t leave lovers of the last-minute twist wanting: in this case it’s surprising, alarming and depressing pretty much all at once! A chilly, compelling, and quietly engrossing little German film overall, it has been called “brooding” by one to many reviewers with good reason. Brooding it really is, as well as a troubling watch but very much worth it nonetheless.
And although a little icier than the thrillers I usually enjoy, it is made all the more attractive due to a subtle, nuanced performance from the very talented Eklund (The Divide, The Day), with back up from indie faves Karoline Herfurth (Perfume) and Tomas Lemarquis (Noi The Albino), and late comedian Rik Mayall.
Screening Times:
11/03/2015 08:30pm
15/03/2015 10:05pm
16/04/2015 01:45pm
28/04/2015 02:00pm