The “I see dead people” trope has been used so extensively in supernatural thrillers that it’s practically its own sub-genre by now. With The Messenger, David Blair aims to subvert the usual clichés and focus more on the main character’s emotional struggles than his paranormal gift/curse, leaving us with one of this year’s better character pieces and a heartfelt ghost-story.
The plot may take a backseat here so character development can shine, but it’s not entirely absent. The story follows Misfits star Robert Sheehan as Jack, a damaged young man with the peculiar ability to see and communicate with the dead. Using this ability, he delivers messages to the deceased’s loved ones, usually helping them say goodbye in one way or another. Jack is soon confronted with a mysterious death with disastrous implications, requiring the help of Lili Cole as his estranged sister Emma, as well as Alex Wyndham as her husband Martin. Meanwhile, DCI Keane (David O’Hara in yet another antagonist role) grows suspicious of Jack’s involvement with certain violent deaths, believing him to be a mentally ill murderer.
Though all the actors performed at their best, Sheehan absolutely steals the scene with a main character that holds the movie together. Some of the film’s best scenes are just Jack walking around the countryside talking or even arguing with the invisible apparitions that constantly besiege him. You truly believe that this character bathed in grief and sorrow that simply can’t walk away from his fate, even though the world around him believes that he’s mad. By comparison, the main mystery surrounding the death of a reporter seems dull and uninteresting, but it doesn’t detract much from the experience.
David Blair is a veteran director, and it’s easy to see that he squeezed as much quality as possible from what couldn’t have been a very large budget. The direction is very efficient and at times even touching, but some of the flashbacks can be jarring at first as they show up unannounced. Even the film’s apparent climax doesn’t really bring closure to the story, but presents us with a missing piece of Jack’s past that really packs an emotional punch. All this contributes to the overall story, so these aren’t exactly flaws.
The entire film resonates with a profoundly melancholic atmosphere and a great soundtrack to drive it home. The narrative aspects could have used some more work, especially with random story elements that ultimately don’t lead to anything and an unsatisfying ending, but this otherwise this is an extremely well-crafted and visually stunning film.
The concept might not be the most original, but The Messenger has a lot of heart, which mostly makes up for the narrative shortcomings. Robert Sheehan’s acting is also commendable, adding another layer of pathos to an already good movie and proving that he can take on serious roles as well as his more comedic usual performances. While it’s not exactly a horror movie, Blair has managed to craft a thrilling character-driven film that’s definitely worth a watch, though it will probably leave you wanting a more conclusive finale.