Little Joe

It may or may not be the end of the world as we know it in Jessica Hausner's ambiguous Frankenstein tale. Botanist Alice (Emily Beecham) cuts corners while developing a plant intended as the ultimate natural antidepressant, and soon its pollen affects her colleagues and her son, Joe (Kit Connor). However, the victims of Alice's experiment (dubbed "Little Joe") seem only subtly changed: more serene and confident, they are also fiercely protective of their "mother". Could Little Joe in fact be a force for good? This ethical vagueness is key to the film's disquieting satire, all ably conveyed through Hausner's characteristically controlled direction. The stilted tone will not be to all tastes, but the apt blend of striking colour palettes, Teiji Ito's dissonant music and Martin Gschlacht's creeping camerawork contribute to this involving mystery. Beecham carries the drama with a committed, earnest performance, while Ben Whishaw and Kerry Fox are excellent as her fellow scientists. This modern pharmaceutical twist on the "body snatcher" sub-genre makes for thoughtful, if uneven, viewing.