‘The Loneliest Boy In The World’ Review – A Perfect Mixture Of Dark Humor And Quirkiness

Directed By: Martin Owen

Starring: Max Harwood, Susan Wokoma, Carol Anne Watts, Ben Miller, Evan Ross

Plot Summary: THE LONELIEST BOY IN THE WORLD is billed as a modern fairytale—except with zombies. When the sheltered and unsocialized Oliver is tasked with making new friends after the sudden and devastating death of his mother, he decides that digging a few up (literally) might be his best bet. However, when he awakens the morning after his excavating escapades, he discovers that his newly acquired friends have mysteriously come to life overnight, launching them all into a series of misadventures as they try to keep their secret safe from neighbors, classmates and social workers alike.

Genre cinema is at its most effective and powerful when it strips down the fantastical artifice to its most painfully human components in a serviceable format. Thankfully, this film does just that. While by no means perfect, The Loneliest Boy in the World is a highly imaginative and engaging outing. What makes this such a compelling narrative is, at the core it has a protagonist, Oliver, the titular loneliest boy in the world who is extremely relatable to a lot of people. Not to mention, he is charming in his own quirky way, and you immediately are firmly on his side. As the film unfolds, you start to see just how much of a tragic figure he is.

This likability is very important because even when the dead bodies start amassing in his kitsch-laden house, (keep in mind he didn’t kill them, he just dug them up) you still are rooting for him. The writing is sharp enough to bridge this divide, yes, but a lot of the credit has to go to actor Max Harwood. The young actor, who has already been nominated for a BAFTA for his previous film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, gives such a beautiful and at times understated performance, and you can really see the making of a future super star. Seriously, if there is any justice, this indie movie will lead him onto a path that sees a bright future and eventually Oscar gold. The supporting cast includes Carol Anne Watts giving a small but memorable role as Oliver’s mother. Watts feels like she is channeling a mix of Poison Ivy from The Cramps and Judy Tenuta. The entire rest of the cast is great, and there is thankfully not an uneven or sour performance to be found.

The film has a nice mixture of dark humor and quirkiness which feels at home with early Tim Burton, without ever feeling like plagiarism. Many filmmakers try to do this, yet Martin Owen manages to inject his own personality setting himself apart from the other imitators. The Loneliest Boy in the World certainly takes its off-beat premise and runs with that in a visual sense. What we get is a pastel wonderland, which further supports this fairytale-like quality. When you have a plot that is pretty off-the-wall, it’s smart to similarly match that in its style.

Certain plot elements could have used a tighter focus, though it’s inventive and interesting enough that some saggy plotting didn’t bother me. I am new to this director’s work, yet now I am interested in seeing his other feature films.

The Loneliest Boy in the World feels like it could be the next big cult indie film, in much the same way Donnie Darko was for an entire generation of young cinephiles. Martin Owen is clearly a genius when it comes to mood, tone and presenting a compelling narrative that is relatable. Sure, we may not dig up bodies to find friends, but we all have felt lonely and struggled with loss. However, there is a profound brightness at the end of the film which suggests there is hope for all of us to make it out on the other side.

The Loneliest Boy In The World will be available in select theaters on October 14, and available on Digital and On Demand on October 18 courtesy of Well Go USA. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBhGbSrixtE]