Some greatness but disappointing in the end

Rating: 5/10 (17 June 2018)

In a dystopian society (likely in Ireland or England though the location is unnamed), two groups of radical control freaks battle against each other. One is a law-enforcing hotel compound in a rural area. Its purpose is to convert single people into couplehood. Singles who fail to couple within forty-five days face serious consequences. The other group is loners who have escaped the compound and live with their own rules in a nearby forest. David (Colin Farrell) sees the worst of both worlds.
The first half is clever at times despite some moments of cruelty and sadism. As bizarre as the anti-single compound is, it seems to make sense within its own set of rules and ideals. Its concept is likely a stab against one of the unspoken prejudices: the belief that singlehood is an unfortunate and horrible situation that must be corrected and removed as quickly as possible. The oddball group of characters make a fascinating show that sometimes has scary moments. There is also a clever contradiction as the "guests" are treated with verbal courtesy even as they are being controlled.
The movie goes downhill in the second half once the main action moves into the forest. It's not just overly long (it is); it misses the opportunity to show the misfits living differently from the tyranny they left behind. It's just more of the same controlling mean-spiritedness. By this time one has already had enough and wants less rather than more of what took place before.
Even a plot twist fails. There could have been tension and suspense. Instead, it was done so quickly, one wonders why it didn't happen sooner.
The characters are deliberately bland and almost robotic thus making it difficult to identify with anyone. When David makes a ridiculous and stupid decision by the end, the feeling of disappointment is further fueled.