Film Review – Dirty Weekend

Although there have been a few attempts to alter his filmmaking identity over the years, writer/director Neil LaBute is primarily known for his provocative ways with sexuality, gender, and race. He enjoys poking at taboo topics, armed with acidic, slyly humorous dialogue that periodically cuts to the heart of social woes and emotional instability. While his cinematic career has been lacking lately (his last effort, “Some Velvet Morning” was barely distributed), LaBute revives his impish qualities with “Dirty Weekend,” which teases surprises and extends discomfort. The movie has its moments, but “Dirty Weekend” comes up short when time arrives to truly unnerve the audience, finding LaBute unable to dream up a story that contains a suitable payoff. Instead, he shows more comfort with vague outlines of anxiety, which isn’t as amusing as the production imagines. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com