The Drowning of Arthur Braxton
Year: 2021
Studio: Fireflight Film
Director: Luke Cutforth
Cast: James Tarpey, Rebecca Hanssen, Johnny Vegas, Ben Hawkey, Sophie Wright, Malcolm Freeman
Crew: Isabella Larter (Makeup Artist), Marty Webb (Colorist), Caroline Smailes (Novel), Anuree De Silva (Editor), Helen Stirling (Production Design), Peter Coulthard (Production Design)
Runtime: 102 minutes
Release: Jul 13, 2021
IMDb: 6.20/10 by 4 users
Popularity: 7
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
James Tarpey is quite good as the eponymous young man in this slightly super-natural drama. Bullied at school and largely ignored by his dipsomaniac dad (Johnny Vegas) at home, he seeks solace (and safety) in a disused public swimming baths. It is here that he encounters the young "Laurel" (Sophie Wright) and "Delphina" (Rebecca Hanssen). Neither girl will ever get out of the water nor can he get in! As he becomes a regular visitor, he gradually falls for "Delphina" but is all as it seems? Malcolm Freeman's "Mr. Silver" is also a regular at the pool, but what is he doing there - and what hold has he over the swimmers? Vegas is also good as the negligent father and as the story gently unfolds, it has a simplicity - young love - to it. The ending isn't maybe the best, the story does tend to dart about a bit, but it cannot have had much of a budget and Luke Cutforth manages to develop just enough of the characterisations to keep it interesting. Maybe "Arthur" ought to have invested in a pair of Speedos?