A haunted journalist, traumatised by a particularly harrowing recent experience, learns that he may be a reincarnated serial killer when he encounters a celebrity hypnotherapist. Guided by slick Bevan (Jeremy Piven), Jason (Aneurin Barnard) attempts to unlock the mystery by stepping into the shoes (and black leather gloves) of his past self. Forced to bear witness as he slaughters a number of women in the 1980s, disgusted Jason is determined to make his past self answer for these awful crimes. But how sure can he be of what he’s experiencing? And what have Jason and Bevan wrought by dredging up the grisly past?
Directed by Simeon Halligan (creator of Grimmfest and director of 2014’s White Settlers), Past Life utilises the filmmaker’s beloved Manchester, setting the stage for a modern Giallo. It’s an unexpected but welcome genre riff, and although it doesn’t have the visuals nor the verve to pull off its Hitchcock or De Palma aspirations, there is a sense of atmosphere there which makes good use of its setting.
What Past Life also boasts is a strong cast, including Nicholas Farrell, Tim McInnery and Pixie Lott (yes, that Pixie Lott) in small but effective roles. The pop star is particularly charming as Jason’s pregnant partner Claira, overcoming some goofy dialogue and flimsy characterisation to deliver the film’s meatiest performance. She’s doing quite a bit of heavy lifting here, between Barnard’s unconvincing lead and a distracting Piven – who flits in and out of the narrative when it suits – but it all comes together as past and present converge in a tense finale.
Written by Halligan along with screenwriters Ray Bogdanovich and Dean Lines, Past Life is an engaging mystery, and one which does a good job of keeping the audience on its toes. There’s a sense of Déjà Vu to some of its twists toward the end, but it’s an enjoyably grimy British Giallo with a cool cast and original setting.
PAST LIFE is out now in UK cinemas.
