Emotionally Distant

Rating: Null/10 (3 December 2004)

Nichols paints a pretty grim world where love is a game of deception and manipulation, and sex is wielded by the players as a weapon. It's no less merciless than a deathmatch arena, where the only redemption can be found in loneliness and isolation.
The title represents a playful twist to the story. Even though the main characters are physically intimate, they are impossibly distant emotionally. Set in central London, the backdrop is emphasized by a depressing grayish sky. Harsh lighting and cold warehouse-style sets reinforce the emotional desolation of the characters.
And fitting to the theme of treachery, the most seemingly vulnerable character turned out to be the deceiver, and the one you trust the most betrays you. At the end, no one is left unscathed and everyone is emotionally bereft.
I don't need to reiterate that the film is aimed towards a mature audience. Anyone who is into glitters and pyrotechnics will probably drift into a coma before the movie ends.