A man in his thirties travels to a remote cabin to reconnect with his estranged father.
I think it’s got to be some holy trinity of Fantastic Fest when a Justin Long acid-trip film, a Daniel Radcliffe gonzo indie action pic, and a hipster Elijah Wood thriller all play the same weekend. For my part in this holy ritual, I observed “Come to Daddy,” Ant Timpson’s feature directorial debut (even though his producing credits qualify plenty enough.) “Come to Daddy” started as neo-Gothic horror then served up enough twists to propel the story into something more than a farcical horror and landing on the true nature of Daddy Issues.
Elijah Wood plays Norval Greenwood, a 30-something wealthy hipster clearly struggling in life. After a letter from his absent father draws him to this cabin on the beach, he attempts to reconnect with a gruff individual who clearly doesn’t want him there. Norval’s genuine attempts to reconnect with a missing part of his life fuels the true horror to follow.
Norval never truly grew up. It’s clear from the get-go he’s struggling. We learn that he grew up in a mansion in Beverly Hills so all his elitist/hipster posturing comes from living in the closed-loop of wealth. His mother practically erased his father from existence after he left. The emotional set up for this movie carries the throughline of the film well after it breaks its initial plot.
The movie starts as a Gothic horror film straight out of a Daphne DuMaurier novel. An estranged father living far from society in a house that creaks and groans ominously. They update the setup by establishing it in the twenty-first century (complete with an iPhone designed by Lourdes) and place it firmly on the beach. The design of the house is fantastic. A vacationer’s home away from home surrounded by dark rocks residing on a steep cliff out over the ocean. The wooden interiors and shag carpet don’t prevent it from creeping under your skin. While it looks like a quaint vacation home, everything about the place reeks of mystery and distant alarm. Then comes the turn and the whole movie shifts.
Timpson does a wonderful thing by finding the emotional heart of this film. Clearly the theme of the movie revolves around Daddy Issues, how we address them, how an absent father changes who we are. The film makes clear Norval’s absent father became the source of his mentioned alcoholism and sense of entitlement. Wood plays Norval to great effect drawing both groans, laughs, and sighs. Nothing is more human than someone trying to reconnect with their lost parent.
Stephen McHattie steals the show as Gordon. Norval and Gordon spend the first thirty minutes getting to know each other in one long ritual of one-upmanship that Norval keeps losing. McHattie’s gruff demeanor is perfect for this film as he clearly toys with Norval’s emotions. In one minute he praises his son and in the next he diminishes him. Their fireside conversation alone I could watch for hours. McHattie knows how to draw out the tension and Elijah Wood knows how to vulnerably feign courage.
The cinematography devolves over time spinning in moments of chaos. A classic Medium-Medium-Wide combo fit the lion’s share of the dialogue scenes. Really, what I loved was the highlighting of the surroundings. The crashing waves and craggy rocks all illustrate the sharp points Norval’s about to prick himself on. His bed’s metal frame is too small and the house rattles loudly. It reminded me of my grandmother’s old house. I respected the old wood furnishings but never felt perfectly at home. Too much of my grandmother’s history resided there for me to be comfortable and Norval certainly feels the same. He’s in Gordon’s territory, hunted minute by minute.
The film focuses thoroughly on its narrative but eschews smaller subplots in favor of the larger picture. In some ways, those plots bear no consequences to the story at large. A minor romance plot ends abruptly partway through and you wonder what its purpose really served. Thankfully the ending provides enough emotional relief to make it worth the watch.
I recommend this film for anyone looking for an intense time. It’s Gothic Horror setting will inspire you and just when you think you’re done with mystery the twist will hook you. I’m glad I saw this film in theaters where I could pick apart its images. I’d recommend for home viewing as well if you’re alone and in search of something with a mystery at its heart. Enjoy Ant Timpson’s latest work!
“Come to Daddy” recently premiered at 2019 Fantastic Fest
