Next Exit
Cert 15| ★★★★✩

In a not-so-distant future, unscrupulous scientist Dr Stevenson (Doctor Who alum Karen Gillan) presides over an experiment that has seemingly proved that there is life after death in this impressive sci-fi debut from writer-director Mali Elfman.

Faced with this new information, suicides and murders are on the up with Stevenson at the helm of a new initiative that encourages voluntary suicide in order to study the phenomenon.

Down and out and depressed, two strangers, Rose (Katie Parker, excellent) and Teddy (Rahul Kohli, typically acerbic here) have signed up to the new initiative, but circumstances have forced them to share a ride across the country to reach their final destination.

First at loggerheads, the two eventually learn to live with each other’s many flaws and soon start to develop real feelings for one another.

2

Rahul Kohli and Katie Parker

Mali Elfman, the daughter of beloved Jewish film composer Danny Elfman, delivers a killer debut feature here.

Playing with an intriguing high concept sci-fi narrative, the writer-director has provided a hugely effective commentary on our collective modern malaises. Mixing classic road-movie tropes with dark humour, she manages to delve deep into our innermost insecurities while focusing the bulk of the story on her two protagonist’s eventual salvation.

The two central performances are truly magnificent throughout and the breezy buddy-movie feel is enjoyable.

Despite its cliched redemption arc about two people who find solace and togetherness amid despair, Elfman has given us an expertly constructed and hugely original moral-dilemma narrative that delivers on almost every promise.

Remember her name, you’ll be hearing it again and again.