Written and directed by D.G. Clark, A Kind of Kidnapping stars Kelly Wenham, Jack Parry-Jones, and Patrick Baladi. The movie is a low-budget, British black comedy, about a young broke couple who kidnap a sleazy politician for financial gain.
In the movie, Brian is a taxi driver, while his girlfriend Maggie is a struggling actress and part-time waitress. Both are living in the North East of England, trying their best to make ends meet, but times are tough and due to rent arrears, they are shortly set to be evicted from their home.
One night, while waiting tables, things get worse when Maggie has an encounter with a difficult diner. The diner is MP Richard Hardy, and after Maggie speaks to him rather rudely she loses her job.
Unsure what to do next, with their financial situation about to become more difficult, Maggie and Brian make the unusual decision to kidnap Richard in order to hold him for ransom. They want some quick cash, in order to set themselves up with a new life, and Maggie believes kidnapping a rich politician will be the best step forward.
But as the pair soon discover, this course of action is a little more complicated than they expect. Richard decides the kidnapping will greatly benefit his political career and as such, he becomes very keen to drag it out.
Quirky and comical, A Kind of Kidnapping is a fun little movie which taps into various conversations about class, privilege, and wealth in modern day Britain. The thrust of the film is about a couple who make bad decisions, but this then leads onto something which escalates considerably, and is wrapped in satirical and topical humour.
At the centre of the story are Maggie, Brian, and Richard who take part in all of the action. Each character has clearly defined traits, which show the type of person they are, and all are excellently portrayed by their respective actors.
One of this movie’s strengths is in its casting. Kelly Wenham, Jack Parry-Jones, and Patrick Baladi are all great in this movie, and they really bring something special to the screen.
The central trio understand the tone of this picture, know when to lean into the farcical elements of the comedy, and when to play up the drama. This whole film is very much a character piece, which thrives because of the actors involved, and they make it fun to watch.
As A Kind of Kidnapping is a low-budget picture, the film does have some limitations when it comes to the technical aspects, such as locations, lighting, etc, but this film is clearly made by a filmmaker who understands the medium inside and out. Writer/director D.G. Clark demonstrates a real talent for telling stories, as well as an eye for detail, and he is able to work around a lack of funds.
My only real criticism with A Kind of Kidnapping is that I would like to see it fleshed out a little more, with the grubby, deceitful nature of some of the characters pushed a bit further. However, this again feels more of a budget issue than anything else, with Clark only able to give his characters so much room to breathe, so I see this as a minor issue really.
Either way, I like what is on offer in A Kind of Kidnapping. The film sets out its story very quickly, allows its cast the opportunity to shine, and wraps things up neatly before the credits roll.
Should you wish to check out A Kind of Kidnapping, the movie arrives in select UK cinemas from Thursday 13th July, as part of a series of special cast & crew Q&A screenings. Take a look at your local cinema listings to see if the movie is playing in your area.
Alternatively, A Kind of Kidnapping will be making its way onto UK digital download platforms from Monday 24th July.
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