Reviews

I find it amusing that one reviewer here wrote of the "English accents" being difficult in this film. Apart from being untrue, there is no such thing as an "English accent", mate. We had the language first: that's why it is called English. There is only an American "accent" - which can be equally impenetrable to the ears of the vast population of the rest of the world, yet we are force-fed it regardless by Hollywood films all the time. There are great films out there in English English and in many foreign languages. We do not all want every story in the world set in 90210 or sound like it. Otherwise, I found this film gripping especially in the more realistic first half; but the last half hour was it was sadly too derivative and over-the-top. And how did the last guy die? Apart from by some deft editing?

I caught this drama unexpectedly, I think on Sunday afternoon, on TV over Easter. I was bowled over by the quality of the story and atmosphere, as well as the young performances, and wondered why it hadn't had more publicity raving about it, and why it appeared to be hidden away in the schedules. It shouldn't have been! CLAY was wonderfully evocative of both Frankenstein and Jewish legend of The Golem of Prague, yet never fell back on the tired "with one bound" dramatic cheats that afflict other TV fantasy shows (e.g. Doctor Who!). It also had a Biblical subtext that was never explicit. I don't know the book it was based upon, but I look forward to more work from the screenwriter, and the director.

The above fan comments that the film did not receive any awards. As the writer of this short I am happy to report it won several including the Celtic Film Festival Best Short Film, and the British Academy Award (BAFTA) for Best Short Film.