WallDale is the writing and directing debut of Matthew Cathcart. The sci-fi thriller is situated in the small British town of WallDale, where the most exciting thing that happens is when a new person moves in. This is such a big deal that Sheriff Nigel (Andrei Apetrei) gathers the other residents for a meet-and-greet at the community center. So, the dozen or so citizens, including Allison (Josée Bekker) and tech guru Keith (Lewis Bowkett), gather to greet Meghan (Brianna Rose Seymour).
But all of a sudden, the lights go out, and Bella (Molly Burke) winds up dead. The sheriff initially blames Jenna (Thuy Nguyen) because of past misdeeds. But a pat down by Deputy Bobby (Jack Thrower) proves they couldn’t have done it. Nigel’s son, Joseph (Noah Xavier), protests his dad’s instant accusations without evidence. CCTV footage then implicates Luca (Isaac Hayes; obviously not that Isaac Hayes), which upsets his wife, Linda (Madison Cook), despite proclamations of innocence. As if that isn’t enough, the residents find themselves somehow locked in the community center. Once free, even weirder things start to happen, including the arrival of another new face, Elizabeth (Abigail Walker). Why is Meghan’s real purpose in coming to WallDale? Why do she and Elizabeth seem to be at odds at all times?
“…all of a sudden, the lights go out, and Bella winds up dead.”
WallDale has about five major plot twists. The biggest (maybe it’s the second biggest) isn’t revealed until the 52-minute mark, give or take, but is very easy to suss out. The fact that there are only 15 people or so, and their occasionally strained interactions all led to one easy-to-figure conclusion. This is where Meghan and Elizabeth enter the fray, but with differing ideas on how to handle what’s happening. This revelation leads to some odd plot holes that are never addressed. For instance, how do Luca and Linda not realize certain things about their “kids at home?” Messing with memory is a part of the plot, but that doesn’t explain matter, as in particles that create something tangible. It is head-scratching to say the least.
What does work storywise is the little details that flesh out the world. The characters of Alex Kross and Lewis help create a larger world in a believable fashion. Their roles in the latter half of the 2-hour and 15-minute film make sense. The corporate angle is also intriguing, as well as another twist that will not be revealed here.
"…enough intrigue and small moments of originality to make Cathcart's debut worth checking out."
