TL;DR
"10x10" is a brutally disappointing film that stretches its meager 83 minutes into an eternity. Kelly Reilly plays Cathy, a florist whose abduction by the bumbling Lewis leads to her confinement in a supposedly soundproof room. However, the film's plot is riddled with illogical sequences and unconvincing portrayals, from the kidnapper's sheer luck to Cathy's repeated, failed escape attempts. Despite Reilly's strong presence, the film falters due to amateurish direction and a weak script, making it an exasperating watch. Discover just how much this film misses the mark – read the full review to understand the extent of its failures.
Det är sällan som jag ser filmer som är så usla som 10×10. It’s rare that I see movies as disappointing as 10×10. Enduring this film proved to be a trial. Despite a runtime of only 83 minutes, it felt significantly longer. The frequency with which I checked the time became almost a physical strain.
Cathy (Kelly Reilly) is a florist, seemingly an ordinary and devout woman with her future ahead. However, Lewis (Luke Ewans) has other designs. He abducts her in broad daylight, taking her to his residence where he confines her to a soundproofed ten-by-ten-foot room. As he begins his interrogation, it becomes evident that the situation is more complex than it initially appears.
Jag vet knappt var jag ska börja så jag börjar från börja:. I am unsure where to begin, so I will start chronologically. The film unfolds in a linear fashion, presenting what can only be described as an exceptionally clumsy kidnapping. Lewis, the kidnapper, lacks proficiency, yet benefits from extraordinary luck. He accosts Cathy in a parking lot, securing her hands and feet and applying tape over her mouth. He then inexplicably leaves her unattended next to her car while he casually walks to his vehicle. Subsequently, the driver of the adjacent car arrives, seemingly oblivious to the bound woman, and drives away, freeing up the parking space for Lewis to calmly place Cathy in his trunk. In a parking lot, in broad daylight… The absurdities continue upon arrival at his house. He locks her in the room, proclaiming, “There’s no point in you screaming; the walls are 1.5 meters of solid concrete.” While this may be true, a metal air vent is conspicuously located in the upper right corner, facing the exterior. Consequently, any screams would be easily audible outside. Furthermore, upon regaining possession of her phone (the circumstances of which are best left unexplored), she manages to obtain a signal via the vent.
Cathy succeeds in escaping approximately three times (the exact number became unclear), each time overpowering Lewis, only to be recaptured due to a failure to definitively incapacitate him. The entire narrative is plagued by illogical sequences. This represents one of the most exasperatingly flawed films encountered in recent years. While a plot twist is introduced, its potential impact is undermined by amateurish direction.
Kelly Reilly first came to my attention in Den Spanska Lägenheten where she demonstrated her capabilities as an actress. Her subsequent performance in the underrated horror film Eden Lake solidified her presence on my radar. Reilly remains a compelling presence throughout the film; however, during her character’s transformation towards the conclusion, her performance seems somewhat perfunctory.
Luke Ewans has appeared in numerous films (including the Hobbit trilogy) but has not left a significant impression. In this particular film, his attempts to portray a wide spectrum of emotions result in an unconvincing and exaggerated performance.
The DVD edition, mirroring the film itself, offers little of value. No supplementary material is included, and the picture and sound quality are commensurate with the low-resolution format. The film lacks a particularly sophisticated sound mix; therefore, the limitations of the DVD format are not especially detrimental. (The film has not been released on alternative physical formats in the Nordic countries).
10×10 serves as an example of a production where virtually everything misfires. The only potentially positive observation is that the visual presentation is adequate, and the production values are reasonable. Beyond this, there is little to commend. The script, acting, and direction are of such a low caliber that it is surprising the film secured any distribution. Given that it is only available on DVD, the investment may have been minimal, but any expenditure exceeding a nominal amount would be excessive.
