Am i the only person leaving a review that has read the book that this film is based upon ?. It was the first book by Neil Cross and i read it around the late nineties. It has remained in my top ten ever since. The sort of book you make a point of lending to certain friends who you will know will appreciate it - not for all tastes. I found the book to be highly disturbing yet a truly fantastic read, full of memorable characters.
The film on the other hand follows the book quite closely for a while then veers away dramatically, coming back at the end.
****SPOLIERS AHEAD******
In the film he kills the mother and child, which just did not gel with the story. The book has them almost as a shining light in Jon's world, a reminder of things that may have been and could even be. They are then killed in a tragic (aren't they always!) car accident which sends Jon off the rails even further, especially when he sees their father, his old friend, then start to fall in with the shady elements of his own existence. Then the sh*t really hits the fan.
Very disappointing for me, probably only because i hold the book in such high esteem. They were so close to getting it right and then, for some unfathomable reason, tripped over the final hurdle.
The film on the other hand follows the book quite closely for a while then veers away dramatically, coming back at the end.
****SPOLIERS AHEAD******
In the film he kills the mother and child, which just did not gel with the story. The book has them almost as a shining light in Jon's world, a reminder of things that may have been and could even be. They are then killed in a tragic (aren't they always!) car accident which sends Jon off the rails even further, especially when he sees their father, his old friend, then start to fall in with the shady elements of his own existence. Then the sh*t really hits the fan.
Very disappointing for me, probably only because i hold the book in such high esteem. They were so close to getting it right and then, for some unfathomable reason, tripped over the final hurdle.