Blackbird

All is dark in Adam Rapp’s brooding Blackbird, a gloomy tale of addiction, insecurity and love in a hard place. The film follows the lives of self-titled “has been” and heroin addict Baylis and teenage runaway Froggy, as they struggle with themselves and each other in the squalid squats and strip joints of mid-90s New York. Paul Sparks gives a raw, rough-edged performance as Baylis, his Southern drawl lending the character depth and hinting at his untold history; and Gillian Jacobs skillfully portrays Froggy’s wide-eyed anxiety, managing to convey the close similarity between love and addiction.

Generally the script is well written - even allowing for a few moments of humour within the depressing tale - but at times it reverts to cliché and the story becomes quite predictable. The most striking feature of the film is its murky palette: black is the predominant shade, with the sickly yellow of a low watt bulb, or a dull uniform neon glow successfully orientate the viewer through both the real and personal worlds of the characters. Gritty, shocking and occasionally funny, Blackbird is a fine meditation on human weakness and love.