‘Medusa Deluxe’ Review – A24’s Dazzling British Whodunnit Is A Rewarding, Audacious Debut

Medusa Deluxe, director and co-writer Thomas Hardiman’s debut feature which boasts an ensemble cast of British actors, follows the stylists and models of rival hair salons after a murder has jeopardized a regional hairdressing competition that is already underway. This initiates an investigation into not only the murder but the competition and lives of the participants themselves. Led by particularly lively performances by Clare Perkins as Cleve and Kayla Meikle as Divine, the film is cast to near perfection. The great strength of the whodunnit is the ability to key in on each character, no matter how important they might seem. Each performer gets their moment to shine, and each character gets their instance of revelation or suspicion. With the story taking place all in one location, the character’s thoughts and feelings continue to incubate as the night drags on which allows for some sublime chunks of acting.

The most intriguing thing about Medusa Deluxe’s narrative is that it focuses almost equally on the whodunnit mystery as well as the intricacies of the regional competition that the salons were preparing for. The script weaves both storylines seamlessly, yet gives both individual yet comparably dramatic moments. Despite these considerable beats, the salon competition is used largely for laughs that deliver some truly hilarious moments throughout the movie. A bit that may be overlooked is that the stylists are continuing to work on their hair competition creations the whole night following the murder. Most of the stylists are visibly more concerned with their work instead with the murder investigation going on in their very building.

Outside of the story, Medusa Deluxe is truly a celebration of technical and craft filmmaking. Shot in the Academy ratio, or 1.33 to 1, the frame is tight and makes the audience focus only on what’s right in front of them. The entirety of the movie is also shot and edited to seem like one take. Experiencing each moment in real-time with no cuts between characters immerses the viewer in ways that are difficult to pull off. It takes a lot of work both in front of and behind the camera to make each scene flow with seemingly no cuts.

The synthesis of these camera techniques keeps the audience’s attention and allows them to truly feel the urgency and chaos during the more serious scenes. The colossal success of these techniques is that they never seem self-indulgent or pretentious. These decisions have a purpose and bring much more depth and intensity to the film, unlike some films shot as a oner over the past decade. This picture doesn’t sacrifice substance in favor of style, but instead uses its style to bring out both the dramatic and comedic turns of the story. 

As one might expect in a film about dueling hair salons, the costuming and hairstyling are immaculate. Each character’s outfit reveals so much about them and the way they display themselves to the world. It’s hard to even comprehend how some of the hairstyles are created. Not only do the models getting ready for the competition have style, but the hairdressers themselves show out as well. This is particularly shown towards the end of the film, with a flawless transition to keep the one-shot effect going, where the time jumps to some time later and a wardrobe change is in order. Expert lighting throughout the movie beautifully complements the costumes and hairstyles. Gleaming colors pop off the screen in contrast with the monochromatic walls that make up the back hallways and stairwells where much of the film takes place. 

Medusa Deluxe is one of the most dazzling and stylish feature-length debuts by a director in recent memory. Building off the bedrock of a powerhouse cast, Thomas Hardiman delivers a delightful whodunnit with a flare and poised charisma that is often unachievable by first-time directors. Hardiman’s one-take camera technique offers a truly immersive experience that respects the audience’s attention span and doesn’t try to get you hooked with quick cuts and flashy editing. The world of cinema would be in great hands if more filmmakers were afforded opportunities to take risks like this early on in their careers.

Medusa Deluxe will debut in select theaters and on VOD on August 11, 2023 courtesy of A24. 

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