Written and directed by Ian Killick, on the brink of nuclear destruction, a mother must make an impossible decision to protect her children. Starring: Evie Templeton, Anna Andresen and Sura Dohnke.
There are some subtle choices which filmmakers can make to enhance the tone of a film, The Bunker’s camera movement is a good example. It quickly instils an air of danger and fear, before we’re even introduced to the characters. So that when we are, there’s already a solid atmosphere of tension at work, something that only grows as the film progresses. Ian Killick and cinematographer Matt Gillan then enhance that further by giving the aesthetic an interesting grain, giving it a stronger and genuine presence. Something that can be often lost in film with sci-fi and dystopian themes.
Killick’s writing has similar qualities, a lot of the time the focus is on the thought processes of the characters rather than what they actually say or do. Which is actually surprisingly captivating to watch when the stakes are nice and high. You could argue that the story is a little simple but it works and feels like the right choice over trying to over-complicate or rush this story and end up with something convoluted, which is another common problem with dystopian cinema. That’s not to say Killick doesn’t still fit plenty into those half a dozen minutes, there’s plenty of issues of family, survival and psychology. Especially as it’s a story that makes you ask questions and opens up a nice debate about difficult choices in critical moments.
Of course, none of those mind games would be as strong without the performances from the core trio of Evie Templeton, Anna Andresen and Sura Dohnke. Starting with Dohnke who, while it does feel like an ensemble piece, provides the heart of the story. A mother’s love and dedication to her children in intense circumstances is always an interesting situation to explore and Dohnke definitely does it justice. She portrays Helen as sympathetic and strong, selfless but logical, you can see her vulnerability but she’s also very capable. She has pretty much every classic feature you could want from a leading character.
Qualities that are satisfyingly reflected in Evie Templeton’s performance as her daughter Bess. Templeton adds a naivety, fear and bigger level of uncertainty but ultimately matches the strength and resilience of Helen. Last but not least Anna Andresen gives us a wily quality, she’s truly on edge, stubborn and unmoving but Andresen does a wonderful job of communicating how those emotions are driven by the same fear Helen and Bess have. They’re a great trio, who give us rounded, relatable characters in a handful of minutes, while also providing intensity and threat.
The Bunker is a smart piece of filmmaking, both in its story and in its production. Using excellent location choices that are both highly effective and budget conscious. There’s a great deal of focus on small details which enhance the film, letting it keep a certain simplicity while also adding an emotional complexity. It’s akin to what you might find stretched out into half of a ninety minute feature, but Ian Killick accomplishes it in just a few minutes. It’s engaging and leaves you to question, what would you do in that situation?
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