Censor (2021)

Director: Prano Bailey-Bond

Stars: Niamh Algar, Michael Smiley, Nicholas Burns

Runtime: 84 minutes

Synopsis: After viewing a strangely familiar video nasty, Enid, a film censor, sets out to solve the past mystery of her sister's disappearance, embarking on a quest that dissolves the line between fiction and reality.

Verdict: With an unusual style and a unique premise, Prano Bailey-Bond’s directorial debut will most likely leave a mark on anyone brave enough to give it a watch even if, like me, they come out of it with mixed emotions. Taking place during the British video nasty era of the 1980s, the film follows a video censor whose viewing of a mysterious cassette sends her down a sinister path to find her long-lost sister.

Elevated by its retro personality reminiscent of the works of Dario Argento or David Cronenberg, the film is an interesting exploration of the effects of losing touch with reality on an individual’s mental health. Without expanding on it as much as I hoped it would, “Censor” highlights the idea that it’s art that imitates life and not the other way around, pointing out that while the first can be edited to fit a certain rating, you can’t cut out parts of the latter no matter how gruesome things can become.

With a runtime of less than an hour and a half, I was expecting the flow to go by without any interruptions or drops in intensity, but was surprised to discover that the narrative dragged in many places without serving the plot. By the end, I can’t really say that I fully understood the main character of Enid - wonderfully portrayed by Niamh Algar – or the dark history that defined her, leading to some questions in regards to her motivations. Some key events within the story cruelly lacked development as well, with most taking a rather dramatic and abrupt turn.

All in all, I don’t regret watching “Censor” even if it didn’t live up to its full potential. You can definitely tell that it was made by someone who will direct a cult classic at some point in her career, and I’m already dying to see what she has in store for us.

FINAL GRADE: 5/10