Candlestick is a 2014 mystery-thriller movie that follows the story of nine individuals who meet at an isolated country estate to celebrate a birthday party. The film takes place over the course of one evening and follows the various interpersonal relationships between these nine characters. The lead character of the film is the birthday girl, Emma Colvin, played by Isla Ure. Emma is a successful businesswoman who seems to have everything going for her. However, her relationship with her boyfriend, Tom played by Nigel Thomas, is on the rocks due to her workaholic tendencies. Tom is a snarky and sarcastic character who seems to enjoy getting under people's skin, particularly Emma's.
The other seven characters who make up the birthday party guests are a diverse group of people with various backgrounds and personalities. There is Marcus played by Andrew Fitch, who is a smooth-talking lawyer. The flirtatious Christina played by Saffron Cassaday, and a young couple, Rachel played by Tom Knight, and Adam played by Ben Beckinsale. Completing the guest list are the married couple, David played by George Stocks and Sophie played by Alex Ferns.
The characters are all gathered together in a lavish country estate, which creates an intense and isolated atmosphere that's perfect for the film's central mystery. The tension between the characters is immediately apparent, with secrets and ulterior motives lurking beneath the surface.
As the night unfolds, the characters begin to disappear one by one, and it becomes clear that someone among them must be responsible for the disappearances. The remaining characters become increasingly suspicious of each other, and their relationships become more strained as they try to uncover the truth.
The film's central mystery is an intriguing one, and the film benefits greatly from the isolated country estate setting, which is reminiscent of many classic whodunnit stories. With the disappearance of each character, the tension only increases, and the viewer becomes more invested in the outcome of the story.
Candlestick is a well-crafted, character-driven thriller that never loses its sense of intrigue. The actors all deliver solid performances, particularly Isla Ure and Nigel Thomas, who stand out amongst the ensemble cast. The film's cinematography is also well done, with some stunning shots of the estate's exterior, which set the mood for the eerie events that take place within.
At its core, Candlestick is a classic whodunnit story that keeps the viewer guessing until the very end. The film is a slow-burner, but it's also an engrossing watch that builds to a satisfying conclusion. It has a clever narrative structure that keeps the viewer invested in the mystery and manages to avoid many of the clichés of the genre.
Overall, Candlestick is a gripping mystery thriller that delivers on its promises. It's a film that keeps the viewer engaged from start to finish, and while it's not perfect, it's certainly worth checking out for fans of the genre.
Candlestick is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.
