SPIKE UP
Director: Anthony Maras Stars: Roy Billing, Marcus Graham
Reviewed by PETER KRAUSZ
The short film format is a good way to highlight a particular story or idea, in a neat and compact way that hopefully remains memorable to the audience. Spike Up is a fine example of economical filmmaking, using a strong narrative structure to portray a veteran police officer’s imploding life due to home and work issues. Reminiscent in some ways of the darkly, edgy style adopted by the short filmmaker Richard Gibson in Message From Fallujah, writer/director Anthony Maras has made a similarly compelling film with Spike Up, with a shattering conclusion.
The story revolves around police ethics and responsibility as Roy Billing, playing a veteran police officer at a crossroads, contends with an uncontrollable drug-addicted aboriginal, his wife’s infidelities and their crumbling home life, and a younger undercover police officer’s drug addiction (hence “Spike Up”). Marcus Graham assays this latter role, and does so quite impressively as a counterpoint to Billing’s slow burn role.
It is interesting to note that the film refuses to follow the typical well worn clichés of a police drama, instead constructing a range of realistic characters and situations leading to a believably startling revelation about the exigencies of police and personal life. Maras has made a credibly resonant film, with some challenging issues and set-pieces, provoking the audience to respond to the ethical and moral concerns posited by the narrative. That the film refuses to pass judgement is one of the strengths of this terrific film. Highly recommended.