A Revenant, we learn, is something similar to a vampire, but more highly developed. It can withstand daylight, the smell of garlic, and seems more or less immune to all the known 'tricks of the trade', other than one: it has to be invited on to privately owned territory; a handy contrivance in the plot of this one man tour-de-force monologue written by Stewart Roche.
Patrick O'Donnell plays an American film producer/ director, Carter. His latest project, a 'biggie', is a B-movie style zombie slasher which he wants to shoot on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. All systems are go, except, with only a couple of days to go, his leading actor has pulled out. In desperation he quickly casts the enigmatic and somewhat elusive Vardell, and they travel across to the island to start shooting.
The script is really both quite predictable, and very long-winded. Despite O'Donnell's obvious story-telling talents, the monologue does drag; there is too much 'filler' for a monologue, and it needs to get to the point of the plot much quicker and with more punch!
O'Donnell takes us through a range of characters (some better defined than others), and sets the scene nicely. He is a most watchable actor and we are completely drawn in, even if we are somewhat bored at times by unnecessary descriptions or vignettes. It is narrated in the first person, and so we are also aware that no matter how gory the story might become, Carter still lives to tell the tale!
With a few well-placed sound effects, the story of the revenant is brought to life with skill by O'Donnell. I do feel though that some editing of the monologue is required to make the story punchier and scarier. Running at 75 minutes, it is overlong in its present state.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
The script is really both quite predictable, and very long-winded. Despite O'Donnell's obvious story-telling talents, the monologue does drag; there is too much 'filler' for a monologue, and it needs to get to the point of the plot much quicker and with more punch!
O'Donnell takes us through a range of characters (some better defined than others), and sets the scene nicely. He is a most watchable actor and we are completely drawn in, even if we are somewhat bored at times by unnecessary descriptions or vignettes. It is narrated in the first person, and so we are also aware that no matter how gory the story might become, Carter still lives to tell the tale!
With a few well-placed sound effects, the story of the revenant is brought to life with skill by O'Donnell. I do feel though that some editing of the monologue is required to make the story punchier and scarier. Running at 75 minutes, it is overlong in its present state.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 15.9.21
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