Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Blake Rivera If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

rodrig58 Definitely not Sci-Fi. And nor Thriller. Mystery something, yes it is. It is the mystery of the inner world of those suffering from depression. I met such people closely. I am convinced that they have a terrible life. Therefore many kill themselves. Living with them is not easy. They know very well how to make your life a hell. This is what I think that this movie is trying to express. The actors do their best. However, not easy to live that and put it into picture. I would had wrote more if I would had participated in the film as an actor. But Simon Horrocks just asked me to help him with money, believing that I am a rich producer. Which is not true, not at all.

kingsfordhypnosis I usually go to big budget movies with low expectations and more often than not, those expectations have been well justified. Conversely, I always have higher expectations of low budget indie movies because from my experience the independent filmmaker is working primarily out of his/her love of the movie making process which usually (but not always)results in Art.When I first saw the Youtube trailer for Third Contact I was immediately captivated and suspected that I might be in for a treat and couldn't wait to attend the London Premiere on the BFI IMAX screen. I did attend and was not disappointed. I usually judge movies, not by any deep analysis but by the initial impact the movie has on me after the credits have gone up. Hiroshima Mon Amour, Woman in the Dunes, La Jetee and more recently Primer have all made deep impressions on me. I can now include Third Contact in that list. I really, really want to see this film a second and third time. My most recommended for 2013 thus far!

Sarah Myles That this film was made for just £4000 puts the entire 'Hollywood system' to shame. With Third Contact, first-time writer/director Simon Horrocks has created an experience far superior to most big-budget fare available in cinemas today. An excellent central performance from Tim Scott-Walker anchors this noir-ish tale of a depressed psychotherapist desperate for answers. Mainly black and white - with occasional splashes of colour - sound, music, creative camera angles and strategic editing are all used to conjure the necessary atmosphere to stunning effect. The characterisation is sublime, as the script never rushes but instead, takes you slowly yet purposefully on a journey to the most unexpected and thought-provoking places. This dark film is a welcome ray of light amidst the fog of predictable, safe, homogenised, junk food that crams our multiplexes month in, month out. It is an honest-to-goodness slice of originality, made with nothing more than a hand-held camcorder. Pay attention, Hollywood. The winds of change are stirring.

icleanna Simon Horrocks low budget Sci-fi Thriller, Third Contact (2011) went down a storm last night at London's Waterloo IMAX cinema. Not only does Horrocks raise awareness about the issues surrounding mental health he effectively demonstrates an intellectual insight into depression. Third Contact immediately breaks the traditional rules of Hollywood with the absence of an establishing shot. Instead the audience is transported into a deep conversation about quantum suicide between a therapist, Dr David Wright and his patient. Tim Scott- Walker's convincing portrayal as the tormented therapist Dr. Wright, allows the audience to connect with the disoriented character.Horrocks filming techniques reminded me a lot of the pioneering filmmaker, Jean Luc-Godard. The low budget, the decision to edit the film in black and white and the use of hand held cameras, are just some of the reasons why. Similar to Godard, Horrocks purposefully created confusing and chaotic sequences that shrewdly leave the audiences guessing. In addition Horrock also utilizes filmmaking in order to express and explore mental illness and the key ideas of existentialism such as, despair, angst and facticity. Godard frequently explored the norms and values of society, and the notions of death. A sense of Film Noir shines throughout the story with Horrocks bold decision to edit the film in black and white, which positively impacts the mise en scene. Diegetic and non-diegetic sound is used to heighten and shape the poetic mood of the narrative. The actors convey emotions and thought through the use of body language and facial expressions when there is little or no dialogue sequences. Lighting is used to create a dramatic contrast between lightness and darkness.Props are intelligently used by Horrocks, with empty photographs frames dotted around several interior scenes. The picture-less frames connotes the characters are lost, unknown, empty and unrecognizable figures. Most importantly it is a direct reference to memories, which is another key theme that runs throughout the narrative. Photographs have the ability to preserve history. Not only does the physical evidence help to protect someone's memories, photographs are a great method used to illustrate someone's life story. Photos can evoke emotions from the protagonist concurrently they invite others to share your memory, even if they were not present at the time. Characters are unable to share each other's memories in the Third Contact with most of the photographs being absent. Additionally the protagonists lack the physical evidence that proves that their memories are in fact real and not a figment of their imaginations.A regular patient of Dr. Wright is shown crafting a children's doll at his workplace. As one life ends another life is being born, although the life is that of a doll this scene still exemplifies the concepts of life and death.Suicide is a prominent subject, running from beginning to the end of the film. If somebody thinks about committing suicide or attempts to take their own life, it is a clear indication that something is wrong in a person's life. Why do people commit suicide? Does depression steer people into wanting them to take their own lives? Can an individual single handedly encourage somebody else to end his or her life? Or is it society as a whole that drives people into such disappear, that they are left little choice but to depart this life? Suicide is a dark and complex subject to understand as each case is complex in its own way. These are the questions that Horrocks raises throughout the film. Third Contact kept me entertained for a whole ninety-nine minutes, as a vast amount of time and research has evidently gone into writing this script, it is far from being over-scripted or predictable. The non-linear narrative captivates the audience as it forces them to work hard in order to unravel the plot. Although Third Contact can be compared to other films, it maintains its originality and manages to keep an edge over its predecessors.As an aspiring scriptwriter and filmmaker I have studied Film, television and New Media for the last six years. I know how difficulties arise during pre-production, production and post- production. I have nothing but admiration for Simon Horrocks as he successfully taught himself how to write scripts, film, over come budgets and how to edit. Horrocks determination and passion for this film has definitely paid off, Third Contact is stimulating and intriguing. Long gone are the days where Horrocks used to sell popcorn to movie goers, instead he will be selling cinema tickets for people to watch his own films, as he can now proudly call himself an independent film maker.I would definitely recommend for others to watch.I rate Third Contact an impressive five stars out of five.Written By Miss Crawford