I knew I was getting into something creepy but this was about as bizarre and unexpected an approach as I could have imagined. Come to Daddy is a fiercely refreshing take on mystery, suspense, and character psychology.
It’s rare to see lead character design be so repellant but Director Ant Timpson and Writer Toby Harvard threw convention out the window. Norval Greenwood’s (Elijah Wood) thin mustache and phallic haircut, combined with his ridiculous fashion, and general phoniness, make for a pretty unpalatable lead character. The touting of his limited-edition, designer gold iPhone designed by Lorde is one of those details that really drive the point home. Even his most human moments of character foundation are quickly washed away by his general douchebaggery. It was a bold position to start the narrative for Timpson’s directorial debut but it opened things up for real, long-form development. And credit to Wood for embracing the suck enough to carry the character through a rough introduction.
Stephen McHattie is probably one of the most underappreciated character actors of his generation. He was the real selling point for me on this project and he didn’t disappoint. His character, Gordon, clashes with Norval head-on, bringing years of paternal blight to the surface. Despite his drunken machismo and constant goading, there’s this intrinsic humor in his performance and Harvard made sure to write the conflicts with that in mind.
The visual storytelling is more engaging than I anticipated and, while the location filming is very limited, the beach house is about as picturesque as you could ask for. Cinematographer Daniel Katz did a great job keeping the viewer visually engaged with some very creative shot-making.
I wouldn’t have described this movie as a comedy prior to watching it, and I hesitate to do it even now, but there is a finely woven sense of humor with a strong presence as the story plays out. It’s incredibly awkward and situational (like I’m laughing on the inside) but it works within the perversion of Harvard’s screenplay. There’s a lot more personal psychology than you’d expect from the trailer.
I can see why its scores and reviews are moderate but it’s still refreshing to see new ideas and new approaches to entrenched genre ideologies.
Recommendation: This is one of those movies where you should probably leave your expectations at the door. If you’re a fan of the horror genre and/or creepy psychological thrillers, there’s a fair chance you’ll enjoy at least some elements of this.