Written and directed by Jamie Luke Milligan, when a ten year old budding impressionist performs for his family hoping to raise money for a new bike, his routine threatens to expose their deepest secrets unless they pay up. Starring: Sienna Arif Knights, Reggie Absolom, Chris Charles, Rosie Holt, Donna Peart-Johnson, Jacob Cole and Anthony Wood.
One thing that people often tend to forget is that children usually see, hear and understand a lot more than adults realise, and Blabbermouth is a fun example of how that can set them up for a calamitous mistake. While Simon (Reggie Absolom) might not realise the entire consequences and implications of his knowledge, he certainly understands its power.
There’s something darkly entertaining about watching children commit blackmail and yet Absolom presents it in such a light, playful package. His performance isn’t sinister or greedy, he simply wants something and has a very persuasive way of asking for it, the kid is a hustler. He’s also supported by a great cast, who all nicely lean into the big comedy style, coming in with extra expressive reactions.
Jumping into Blabbermouth the style right away is utterly British and throwing back to a lot of traditional sitcoms, especially with its one room setup. A choice that works perfectly well but was also extremely savvy to let the budget lie with the visual quality, which is terrific. The editing is also really strong to add a great amount of movement and never feel trapped within that single room. There’s a big, quite adorable, energy to its atmosphere.
Jamie Luke Milligan has a slightly old-school, tongue-in-cheek feel, creating something wholesome and cute. The pacing is done well to let you understand where Blabbermouth is heading but without giving it nowhere to go. It has that air of a family friendly film with layers adults will enjoy more, seeing the more intimate side of things.
Blabbermouth is sweet, funny and very British. It has a delightfully wholesome feel which throws back to a host of classic sitcoms. It’s shot really well to embrace the playful and light-hearted tones of the story while giving Reggie Absolom plenty of room to add a huge cheeky note. It’s clever in its simplicity, creating a slightly outlandish situation while never having to leave a single room and never overcomplicating itself. Jamie Luke Milligan makes something creative and entertaining with a hint of nostalgia.
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