Mikes Film Talk

Kelvin Richards gives us reality out of control in the brilliant 2024 film The Reflected Self. He writes and directs this slow moving masterpiece. Everything works like a finely oiled mechanism. Each revelation surpassing the last. This is nigh on to perfection. The cast, the story, the camerawork. All come together to make something memorable.

The Main Cast

Daisie Boyes is Nia.

Marielle Clare is Aria.

Barney Jones is Dion.

This is an intimate cast. As an ensemble piece it works very well. But, as the tale moves forward, backward, and sideways it is clear that each actor makes The Reflected Self synchronise like clockwork. The actors make this compelling and the script allows them this liberty.

The Story

Nia and Dion head out to a mill. After their parent’s death, the newly inherited property is a good place to get away and to mourn. It is also a good setting to mend some relationship burnt bridges.

An unexpected visitor upsets the cart and the two start having some problems.

the characters

Nia is a young woman of “many colours.” She plays an important part of the soon to be threesome.

Dion is a man who appears to be stunned by recent events. Things are about to become much worse.

Aria is the mystery here. What is her place in all this? She too, like Nia, is a woman of many layers and colours.

It all works

Casting alone for The Reflected Self is perfect. Boyes is spot on as the girl that Dion is trying to reconnect with. Jones shows a perfect sense of self as his confused and frightened character reacts to each event.

It is Clare, however, who really puts the whole thing together as Aria. Clare, who bears a passing resemblance to Minnie Driver, rings the changes here. It is her very underplayed gravitas that helps to propel the entire tale forward.

The camera work, done by Richards as well, is taut, and allows for the intimate setting; the mill and the surrounding countryside, to look perfect. One can almost smell the thatch roof here and the obligatory horse brass on the beams.

*Or at the very least smell the tea and crumpets. This is about as English as it gets and it works perfectly.*

The Reflective Self is an award winning film; Best Thriller and Best Director, and watching the movie is an experience not to be missed. Richards knocks this out of the metaphorical park.

A lot like Heineken this treat touches parts other films can only dream of reaching.

Behind the Camera

Richards himself wrote the treatment and the screenplay after writing the book. This familiarity with the many themes proposed here helps. As does having the right team to put it all together.

Oliver How – First assistant director.

Anthony Wood – Colourist.

Harry Barker – Sound design.

Viz Martin – VFX.

Luca Fagagnini – Composer.

All these folks helped to create this “lightning in a bottle” film. Kudos to all.

The Verdict

The Reflected Self is a cracking film. We get our first “incident” three minutes in and while it is slow paced *It needs to be though.* there is enough going on that it never drags.

We give this one a full 5 stars for originality and delivering a film that will keep you thinking long after it has finished. It is available on Amazon on 10 December.

Watch this one. It is worth the time spent to take it all in. With a run time of 101 minutes, what do you have to lose?

The Trailer