Set the Thames on Fire
Tags: psychedelic, alternate reality

Plot synopsis:
Art is a down-on-his-luck lowlife pianist, whose life has stalled in a grief filled frozen moment – shipwrecked on the lonesome shore of his own life. Sal is a cracked pinball machine; full of energy, light and fun but out of control and dangerously chaotic. Having escaped from Bedlam Psychiatric Hospital, Sal is an easy-going, sweet natured imp of the perverse and agent of trouble.
The two boys meet whilst working as the help at a vile cocktail party for the rich and corrupt. The boys make a connection, finding refuge in each other – the only shipmates on a drunken boat, tossed about on a stormy London sea. At the cocktail party, the elegant and sophisticated Colette reads the dangerously paranoid Impresario’s tarot cards, predicting the demise of the old, bloated and corrupt. This sets in motion a series of strange events that may connect together like a great unseen plan, or may simply be the random coincidences of an uncaring universe.
The boys become caught up in the cogs as they turn, like two rats caught in the machinery of Big Ben, as the cogs drags them ever nearer a terrifying climax. A confrontation between two different natures – the Impresario’s relentless "progress" of greed and brutality, and the boys’ urge for freedom, friendship and beauty. And ever present in the background is the dark and powerful Thames – representing the forces of nature, chance and instinct – but who will it back in this battle of heart and imagination versus bestial brutality?

Review: Unbelievably SAD. I saw it with half an eye on my work - couldn't bear to watch it. There's a moment, when an aging magician performs one last trick, which made me pause and almost cry, but otherwise all of the other characters were representatives of a world lost onto itself - the horrifying image of every man for himself, when the *beep* hits the fan. "As long as Iam alright". "And if I'm more than a little stupid or hope is just as good as an occasional free drink, then at least the monotony of slow death is broken". It's probably one of the most bleak movies I have seen due to its severe chill of coming death.its as a dying body with an almost dead heart in it, which only has one more trick it it... The rest is just on auto, because that how humans get through the day, and the ages.Sorry, people - its a vision, not a failure. This is: "Don't go down this way". Which is way too much message for good art, but effective in all of its bleakness.But REMARKABLE acting during this death of civilization. Sally Philips, Lily Loveless, Noel Fielding, Sadie Frost, Gerard Mcdermott, who make BIG of few lines. Its like a new generation to me, not being British. Tight fear, real insanity, comic vulgarity as in "everything is a (painful) laugh, when you're on a slow sinking ship".I give it 8/10. Because its so goddamn painful! Sorry, I just could not look it straight in the eyes. Thats me. Too much truth.. They come from dark clouds like rain Melancholy floods and that is all. Here's a spoiler-free review...This film challenges depiction, classification and genre placement. Visual poetry tending to depress the spirit.Sadness, endless sadness, melancholy longing; pain. Miserable, sickening, incoherent, absurd, extremely inspired nonsense. A Deliciously Dark Comedy - Needless to say, I love every damn bit of it!!!Don't watch this if you have a limited sphere of thinking. It's important that you understand what you're in for. If you can't sit through a film that requires exertion and intuitive thinking, you're best to just stay away and prevent people from bashing a great film. Some Movies with a comparable Surreal Mood or Atmosphere: The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz (2000) - Bunny and the Bull (2009) - Dark City (1998) - Erasehead (1977) - Bad Boy Bubby (1993) - Brazil (1985) - Skeletons (2010) - The Catechism Cataclysm (2011) - The City of the Lost Children (1995) - Tuvalu (1999) - Night Train (1999) - Naked Lunch (1991) - Voyeur (1986) - Delicatessen (1991) - Wat is it? (2005) - Rubin and Ed (1991) - Plan 10 from Outer Space (1995) - A Fantastic Fear of Everything (2012) - Turbo Kid (2015) - The Lobster (2015) - Combat Shock (1984) - The Chumscrubber (2005) - City of Ember (2008) - Street Trash (1987) The Mighty Boosh - TV Series (2003–2007) Flowers - TV Series (2016)Not a masterpiece by any means. But strong performances, solid acting and cinematic atmosphere accompanied with quiet sound of rain.An Amazing First Film - I hope the makers will keep making movies like this. In addition to profitable work.After watching this picture for the third time it's still growing on me!. Absolutely atrocious. From what I had seen about this movie, I was looking forward to it. It was a huge disappointment! Just exactly how did this excuse for a movie get to be rated at 7.4/10 as of October 6, 2016? I've just watched it. It was a real struggle to endure it all. The only way that this movie is rated as highly as it is must be because of false voting by those who seek to benefit from its release.This movie is absolutely dreadful. I'm not able to find anything positive within it that might redeem it. It really is the worst of the worst! If I could have rated this movie at zero, then that is what I would have done. Hence my giving it one star. Avoid it at all costs ..... unless you are some kind of movie masochist.