Sophie Skelton, star of Outlander, takes a trip to Arrow Video FrightFest in her new project, Stalker. She plays Rose Hepburn, an actor on her way back to her hotel room after a long shoot day. Rose doesn’t make it to her quarters however; exhausted from a day on set, she decides to take the lift instead of the stairs and the lift breaks down. Although trapped in the lift, Rose isn’t alone. She is joined by maintenance worker Daniel (Stuart Brennan) and the pair must work together to survive the ordeal.
Written by Chris Watt and directed by Steve Johnson, Stalker has a layered narrative. Just when you think you have its intentions sussed, it pivots. There’s a lot of complexity hidden beneath its trope heavy facade. The story deals with how women in the industry can be, and often are, treated. Over the course of Stalker, Rose recounts her career path to the patiently listening ears of Daniel. Some of her words are horrifying enough without Stalker even having to try to be disturbing. With so much emphasis on the female experience it feels a little strange to have two make voices behind the character. Skelton likely gave some of her own contributions, but for a film that is highlighting a woman’s voice, or lack thereof, it doesn’t make sense to be males leading the charge.
The tight location of the lift changes as Stalker progresses. As Rose and Daniel begin to converse and get to know one another, the walls seem to expand. The camera widens its shot. Where initially the cameras are up close and personal with both Rose and Daniel, it slowly moves outward. What starts as tight and claustrophobic eventually builds out to something roomier. It reflects the openness forming between the two. Then the final act unfolds and the camera shifts to extreme close-ups of the characters lips and eyes. This is so the audience can really hone in on the words and reactions, both of which are key to the story.
A monologue heavy film featuring only two characters puts a heavy load onto both Skelton and Brennan. Each handles the task perfectly. Both characters are complicated and require many subtle manoeuvres to make them work. It’s excellent work from each actor and they easily give two of the best performances of the festival. Stalker also allows Skelton to shed her Outlander counterpart and play someone thoroughly modern.
An intense and claustrophobic thriller that spins gender norms on their head more than once, Stalker is a gripping tale that will have you rethinking not taking the stairs.
Stalker
Summary
Excellently acted, Stalker is masterfully intense and elegantly constructed.
Stalker was reviewed at Arrow Video FrightFest 2022. Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment presents Stalker on DVD and Digital from 10th October.
