In the darkly comic blackmail thriller Executioner, a fictional shadow cabinet minister is offended when a male prostitute describes his reputation as “colourful”. The minister retorts that colourful MPs support bloodsports and wear bow ties; he prefers the term “maverick”. His sneer when uttering “proletariat” signals his right-wing leanings.
Adapted from a Play with a Stagey Feel
Executioner is adapted by Peter Benedict from his play Deadlock, and the staginess is evident throughout. Benedict co-directs and stars as MP Robert Marlowe, delivering a lip-smacking performance that makes Hannibal Lecter seem restrained. The entire film takes place in the basement studio of Marlowe’s country home, where he dabbles in pottery while listening to Gilbert and Sullivan, with an echo of The Mikado in the plot.
Marlowe’s wife, described as “more of a long-term alibi”, is away for a few days. His assistant Mark (Christian Greenway) has booked 19-year-old Tommy (Max Raphael) for the night. As Marlowe shows Tommy the studio, he casually mentions that the German manufacturer of his kiln made ovens for the Holocaust, setting an ominous tone.
Double-Crosses and Dated Portrayal
Things quickly turn dark, with preposterous double-crosses piling up higher than an MP’s promises before an election. The film was clearly made on a tiny budget and feels more like a filmed recording of a play than a movie. The portrayal of a sleazy, venal Tory MP feels dated; the original play was first staged in 2007, and post-David Cameron and Boris Johnson, the depiction of right-wing privilege and disdain has evolved.
Executioner is available on digital platforms from 6 July.
