One of the many filmmakers who got to work during the lockdown of 2020 was
Blake Ridder. Along with a raft of shorts - including
Coronavirus, one of the first films to address the crisis - Ridder made his feature
directorial debut with psychological thriller Help.
The film stars Emily Redpath as a young woman who visits a friend
(Sarah Alexandra Marks) in rural England in the aftermath of a
breakup, only for a series of revelations to emerge over the course of a
fraught weekend. Louis James and singer Duncan James also
star.
Speaking of his feature debut, Ridder says "No matter how hard we try, no
one is perfect. We all have our own issues and help that we seek for.
Especially in our personal relationships, much like the characters in this
film. During the UK’s first lockdown in March 2020, it pushed me to create
even more short films than I ever did before. Of course, with each film
you make, it teaches you something, you learn from your mistakes and
understand what really captures the audience through my storytelling.
Which ultimately made me decide it was time to make my debut feature
film."
Help is on UK/ROI VOD from February 15th (February 14th on
iTunes UK).
Check out the new trailer and poster below.
The official synopsis reads:
A young woman's life turns chaotic when she uncovers a deadly secret about her friend...A painful break up prompts Grace to visit her friend Liv who is living in the idyllic English countryside with her boyfriend Edward and his dog Polly. The trio start the weekend in high spirits but soon turns into chaos, as well-kept secrets are exposed and the friends come to see each other in a whole new light. Everyone has a secret...
