In the near future, a married couple, Jack (Ashley Zukerman) and Layla (Talia Zucker), have taken a revolutionary risk to move into cloning and biotechnology. This technology enables them to make, create, and clone their stock on their isolated property. Working as a team, they always have much work to do and have succeeded in the past. Now; however, they are suddenly encountering various issues and problems on a frequent basis.
Besides the technological issues, there are also personal struggles. Layla constantly feels a heavy loneliness about her son, who is currently in boarding school. Besides her longing to see her son, the cattle farm is facing various issues that only add to Layla’s confusion and Jack’s frustration. To make matters worse, Jack has been acting suspiciously, and Layla begins to suspect that someone (or something) may be lurking around the farm. Can Layla and Jack uncover what is happening on their farm and causing chaos with their cattle production?
In Vitro is a thriller combined with minor sci-fi aspects. In the first act, the film introduces a world set in the near future with subtle differences, such as the technology used at the farm and through little things, such as how Jack makes his coffee in the morning. During the first act, viewers discover multiple unexplainable mysteries, instantly making me guess at various outcomes and conclusions. The film was directed by Will Howarth (who also stars in the movie as a side character) and Tom McKeith.
I have lots of praise for this film. Firstly, this location, including the primary setting, is excellent. Many extreme long shots include incredible scenery and landscape. On top of this beautiful location and cinematography, the atmosphere for the entire duration is on point. I enjoyed the film visuals and felt somewhat unsettled and tense, as if I knew something abnormal was about to occur. While I’m generally not one to appreciate any form of jump scares, I found them highly effective here, and many moments impacted me greatly with their unpredictability.
However, while many scenes are unpredictable, the film’s big twists and reveals are easily picked. That being said, even when I anticipated what would happen, watching it all unfold was still incredibly thrilling and enjoyable. In terms of performance, I was quite satisfied with the overall outcome, although there were a few moments or lines of dialogue that didn’t have the expected impact. The dramatic and tense moments were always well-executed.
Overall, I found myself pleasantly surprised by this film. It’s both clever and exciting as a thriller. I found the jump scares impactful, and they worked well. The core storyline caught my attention so much that I just had to see how it all concluded. The locations, visuals, and camera work are terrific, and the film is wonderful to see on a big screen. Performances, for the most part, were also on point and engaging, but I found key twists and secrets to be predictable and obvious long before the reveal was made. I still found myself filled with excitement, watching everything unfold and conclude.
In Vitro (2024) will be screening at BIFF2024! For session times and more information, please check out the link here: https://biff.com.au/
7.7/10
22nd October 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
THANK YOU FOR VISITING
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