Playing with the audience's expectations is the name of the game. We, the audience are constantly misdirected not by the film makers but by our own biases. It's an interesting concept and I'm glad there's room for challenging films like this in a sea of Hollywood tripe. An example is Tim Roth's performance, the diametric opposite of what we expect from him. Another is the family relationships, we assume we are watching one familial dynamic only to have our expectations subverted. Even when the familial order is explined by the protagonist, Roth, we assume he is lying. It's a scene where the customery hyper active Roth performace is glimpsed so we automatically think he is lying. It's inteligent film making.
Having said that this movie is a little too self conscious and way too earnest, trying a bit too hard to be a European art house flick. It also doesn't paint Mexico in a very good light either and begs the question; why would Uber wealthy Brits holiday there when the world is full of exotic but safe destinations? Why would they holiday on the other side of the World when a close relative is at death's door? Why do they fly with commercial carriers instead of private charter? Plot holes like these trouble me.
Having said that this movie is a little too self conscious and way too earnest, trying a bit too hard to be a European art house flick. It also doesn't paint Mexico in a very good light either and begs the question; why would Uber wealthy Brits holiday there when the world is full of exotic but safe destinations? Why would they holiday on the other side of the World when a close relative is at death's door? Why do they fly with commercial carriers instead of private charter? Plot holes like these trouble me.