Film 183 of 2024:
Sydney Film Festival:
I got to view In Vitro at the Sydney Film Festival. I knew nothing going into the viewing. This lack of expectation likely lead to my overall heightened enjoyment of the film.
To say anything about the core story or it's themes would border on spoiler. In Vitro is a well directed film that respects it's audience. It's allows it's story to be revealed in pieces, that the audience put together. Scenes move quickly but the film never feels overbearing - as the young directors allow moments of tension to build.
Some might have issues with the script, I personally did not. There were moments towards the end of Act 2 and throughout Act 3, where I found myself not agreeing with the path of the story - and thinking to myself that I would have made an alternate choice. But whenever I felt this way, the film revealed something that justified the decision.
The cast is small and intimate, with Ashley Zukerman the stand out performance. The stars however may be the cinematography, capturing the beautiful isolated rural Australia - a unique setting for a film like this. The score swells from scene to scene, adding layers to the ever building tension. This is complimented by the excellent sound design, with every clang and shot bursting off the screen.
In Vitro may not be perfect but it's a film I wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as I did. I'm glad I got the opportunity to see this. It's always great to see Australian films that step outside of some of the local industry cliches, and In Vitro does that well.
A giant fucking spider?!?! literally anything in the universe and you had to pick a giant fucking spider.
