On the surface, Flush appears to be yet another attempt at a gross-out film focused on toilets and their contents. However, when the audience looks further into the murky bowl and subsequently gets their head stuck, they will see that Flush is more than just a poo-centric comedy, thanks to its great acting, a tight runtime, and some genuinely standout moments to keep the viewing experience exciting.
Set in a sleazy club in France, Flush finds neglectful father Luc (Jonathan Lambert) consuming a stash of drugs to hide them from the local dealer, before facing the consequences of being caught. Now with his head trapped in a squat toilet, Luc must find a way to escape whilst the dealer's narcotics addicted pet rat repeatedly attempts to find the drugs that are in Luc's system. As wild as the plot sounds, it doesn't even scratch the surface. That said, the plot isn't overly complicated, getting to know the characters enough to understand the situation happens quickly and effectively, leaving breathing space to enjoy the chaos that unfolds.
There were moments of genuine laugh-out-loud surprise, whether they were funny or just a moment caught off guard, is irrelevant for a film like this; the reaction is there regardless. Flush is a good crowd pleaser; it has charm in abundance and entertainment for many.
The only criticism of this film could be the poor CGI around the beginning of the third act. For a film that is strong in other elements like narrative, tempo, and general aesthetic, this may take some audiences out of the world for a second. Whilst it may be due to budgetary restrictions, this shouldn't be the reason to switch off, given that there are more highly financed films out there that suffer from the same issue.
Apart from this, Flush is a neat and tidy 70 minutes of basic premise set up and easy pay off, whilst being nasty in a way that the French do best, but with a somehow light-hearted humour that can distract from the grimness of the setting. Making its UK debut at this year's Frightfest, Flush is certainly one to watch, with a storyline that doesn't take itself too seriously due to the drug addicted ex-narcotics seeking rat and its quirky supporting characters that grace the screen.
Flush had its UK premiere at FrightFest 2025 on 22 August
