Shoulders marks the directorial debut of Jamie Flatters who has already made a big impression on the film industry. At just 24 years old, he has acted alongside big names like Sigourney Weaver and Kate Winslet in Avatar: The Way of Water. On top of that he also wrote as well as starred in the critically acclaimed indie film Black Dog. So expectations for this Lord of the Flies inspired psychological war film were high. Sadly, a lack of character depth and confusing execution aren't things you can shrug your shoulders at.
The film follows eight soldiers who become isolated at a northern post in Scotland. With no lieutenant to direct them, and no weapons to defend themselves, the group become insulated within their own war-torn playground. In this world, sticks and hands are guns and empty cupped palms can carry powerful grenades. This make belief is essential to restore order to a group awaiting an enemy invasion – although no one knows who the enemy is.
From its black and white aesthetic and open pastoral setting, Shoulders is very reminiscent of Ben Wheatley's A Field in England. Both films make the most of expansive long shots and intense close ups to effectively convey the violence, solitude and stress endured by the characters. Lines between hallucination and reality become more and more blurred, emphasising the paranoia and psychological turmoil faced by our protagonists.
Some of the cinematography in this film is very experimental but there are moments when the camera angles and editing feels weird and jarring. For example, there's one short scene of a conversation between two soldiers that only lasts 30 seconds yet has three separate angles. A weird close up with the characters' heads cropped out of view cuts to them far away with their backs to us, before returning to a high shot with their mouths cropped. There are similar moments like this which do more to disorient than immerse, destroying any tension in the scene.
There are shifting power dynamics amongst the group but the characters are so bland that it can be difficult to fully invest in them. Aside from one character, who is distinguished only by being mute, the rest lack distinctive traits or backstory. The result is that viewers may struggle to root for them or care what's happening to them. The actors try their best to bring some life to their characters but the script stifles them. Past the midway point, dialogue veers into verbose existential speeches that are more confusing than profound. As a result, viewers are pushed even further from the characters.
This film is firmly placed in the surrealist genre but it is difficult to discern the point of it all. It fails to deliver a cohesive plot, and lacks clear character arcs and motivations. A Field in England balanced surrealist cinematography with a clear antagonist and a compelling transformative journey for its protagonist. In contrast, the characters in Shoulders are difficult to differentiate and the film lacks a satisfying concluding narrative arc.
While there is a lot to appreciate from a creative standpoint, with the film's interesting premise and compelling visuals, Shoulders fails in its delivery. It becomes incoherent and rather forgettable.
Shoulders is now available on AppleTV and Amazon Prime
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