Sarah (Ella Scott Lynch) is a young woman who is dealing with personal issues and fighting with her demons. While battling with her thoughts, she decides to get dressed and head out to her local bar where she meets a handsome young man, Lewis (Benedict Samuel). The two have a few drinks and get along nicely, but little does Sarah know there is a more significant threat planned for her evening, and her new lover may not be what he appears. Sarah is now trapped, with terrible consequences which she must face throughout the long night.

It should be noted that Pimped is an Australian film which has been delivered by director David Barker. This is also David’s first directorial feature film.

Pimped is a film that relies on a small, strong cast and also a small location. To the director’s credit, I enjoyed the overall look and style of this film (particularly the film’s use of lighting), all of which I found to be incredibly creative and fun on screen. The film is mostly set within a home that looks old and also feels completely uncomfortable, which naturally helps with creating suspense. Our Australian cast members (who honestly I was was a little unfamiliar with) also delivered excellent performances (in particular the actress Ella Scott Lynch), and I left the film feeling impressed with how suspenseful the film’s tone is.

As one might expect, our film does contain twists, and there are some turns. However, I feel the viewer’s understanding of these twists or major plot points will vary from viewer to viewer as some things are never clearly explained. I thought that I understood certain elements, but sadly, there are moments where I think it would be straightforward for an audience member to believe possibly the wrong way. One could see a twist or plot point as something less or something more than what it was intended to be. It’s a huge disappointment, considering all other factors are done well- kind of a glass is half empty or full situation. What you see and take away from the film could differ to what our director has intended (just my opinion).

As for the film’s duration, Pimped is a rather quick film, and I generally enjoyed the film’s pacing, but sadly I did feel a slow burn at the start and once again right near the end of the film (more so towards the film’s final ending before the credits). Once the film gets going, there is a fun experience that can be had, but it’s mostly found within the centre of the film.

Overall, Pimped delivers some stunning visuals and sets up a vast world, mainly through the sets that we see for a good portion of the film. Our actors give good performances, but sadly the film’s major plot points or twists are told without any real confirmation and understanding revealed to the audience. Selected moments, particularly in the opening and closing of this film, can also feel like a slow burn. Nevertheless, for a directional debut by David Barker, this is a proud achievement, and I look forward to David’s next upcoming film.

4.7/10

Thank you for visiting! Walkden Entertainment is also available on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walkdenentertainment/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkdenentertainment/

Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Peter_Walkden/

Review Written by Peter Walkden