Gerard Johnson is back, and this one looks like a beast. Odyssey, his latest feature, is gearing up to make some serious noise with back-to-back premieres at Edinburgh International Film Festival and FrightFest this August. If you've seen Tony, Hyena, or Muscle, you'll know Johnson doesn't exactly deal in soft edges. This new one looks like it'll be no exception, only more neon, more pressure, and maybe even more personal.
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At the centre of it all is Natasha Flynn, a cutthroat estate agent living beyond her means and barely keeping it together. Her world of fast deals and sleek lies comes crashing down when the people she owes money to start calling in favours that can't be paid with cash. What follows sounds like a slick, high-stakes descent through London's seedy corners, all while Natasha tries to stay ahead of everyone out to ruin her. It's being sold as stylish, gritty, and darkly funny, with a sharp eye on the modern housing crisis and the kind of corporate greed that eats people alive.
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Polly Maberly takes the lead, and by all early signs, she's throwing everything at it. She's joined by Mikael Persbrandt, always good for an edge of danger, and a solid British cast including Guy Burnet, Jasmine Blackborow, Daniel De Bourg and Peter Ferdinando. Even the soundtrack promises bite, with an original score from THE THE, which feels like exactly the right kind of mood to score this ride.
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Critics are already on board. Words like "heart-pounding", "riveting", and "wildly entertaining" have been floating around since its world premiere at SXSW. One even called it a masterclass. Not that Johnson's ever been shy of praise, but there's something about this one that feels like it might push him even further into the spotlight.
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If you're into thrillers that come with bite and a bit of brains, Odyssey should be on your list. UK premieres land mid and late August, with a full cinema rollout in November. Feels like it's building towards something big.
