#128 Sightseers (2012) Dir. Ben Wheatley   I'm sure most people on here will recognise Ben Wheatley as the director of last years Kill List which made a big splash over here in the UK but only managed a small dint in the US. Well anyway, Britain's hottest new director is back barely 12 months later with Sightseers which operates on a much lighter plain to it's predecessor but still retains it's murderous tonal shifts. Much like Kill List this film seems to have to come out of nowhere and be full of surprises. It's now clear that Wheatley has a very distinctive voice and a great ear for characters. As far as one-two sucker punches go Kill List and Sightseers is pretty damn strong. Watched back to back they announce the arrival of a fresh and home grown talent with a diverse set of tools at his disposal. I like that his films are painted on small character-driven canvases but they play with large splashes of expressive technicolor imagery and successfully blend genre conventions with mundane kitchen-sink details. The script here is sharp as hell and the bizarre mix of caravanning in the dales with shocking bursts of violence turns out to be a delightful cocktail. With this film I'm officially a big fan of Ben Wheatley and feverishly anticipate movie number four (which has already wrapped shooting!)
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