A One Mann’s Movies review of “I Came By” (2022).
“I Came By”, currently showing on Netflix, is a pretty enjoyable dark thriller and well worth a watch.
Bob the Movie Man Rating(s):
Plot Summary:
Toby Nealey (George MacKay) and Jay Agassi (Percelle Ascott) are anarchist taggers who delight in entering the houses of the bourgeois elite and spray painting their walls. They use the tag “I Came By” and are getting quite a reputation. Toby’s mother Lizzie (Kelly Macdonald) is unaware of these antics but despairs of her son’s shiftless existance. But when Toby targets the home of retired barrister Sir Hector Blake, he uncovers a dark secret that is difficult for even the vandal’s conscience to ignore.
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: George MacKay, Hugh Bonneville, Kelly Macdonald, Percelle Ascott, Varada Sethu, Franc Ashman.
Directed by: Babak Anvari.
Written by: Babak Anvari & Namsi Khan. (From a story by Babak Anvari).
Twitter Handles: #ICameBy.
“I Came By” Review:
Positives:
- The concept at the heart of the movie has been done before, but the script delivers some neat twists in its execution. And it goes to some surprising places at times. Deliciously dark.
- What a nice treat to see Bonneville in a less-than-squeaky-clean role. (This is not really a spoiler by the way, since you only have to look at the poster to realise that!) And Bonneville clearly relishes it! One particular aside between the ‘untouchable’ Lord and DS Ella Lloyd (Franc Ashman) sees Bonneville viciously hissing out a line that comes as an audacious shock to the viewer!
- Elsewhere, Kelly Macdonald (well known most recently for her turn in “Line of Duty”) is immaculate in the role of Toby’s stressed mother and George (“1917“) MacKay is as good as ever. Percelle Ascott was new to me, but was excellent, particularly in the final reel. It’s the sort of performance that could see him nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star. Overall a really strong British ensemble cast.
Negatives:
- As I said above, the story is not very original: a variant on a range of other movies (which I can’t mention for reasons of spoilers!).
- In terms of the story arc, some of the twists and turns may be unsettling for some viewers (and turn them off the film as an “entertaining watch”).
Summary Thoughts on “I Came By”:
Although dropping some points for originality, this is a neatly executed film by the British-Iranian writer/director Babak Anvari. It has enough “gotcha” moments for me to recommend it. Just be prepared for Bonneville to be a long way from “Downton Abbey” territory!
Trailer for “I Came By”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwHGegiFykU . It’s very well done (in terms of setting the atmosphere for the film) but it inevitably contains some spoilers.
