High-Rise

A pretty accurate rendition of J. G. Ballard's book of the same name, High-Rise is both retro and futuristic, set clearly in the 1960s yet portraying a dystopia future usually reserved for science fiction films.  The science here is psychology in the form of a communal descent into madness.  Most of the film takes place within a self-contained high-rise block, complete with grocery store and gym and a clearly-established hierarchy between the aristocrats of the upper floors and the "lesser" folk below.  A power outage and conflicting parties start the madness.  It's surreal though, in a sort of lord-of-the-flies-meets-hoarders way, for most are free to leave at any time but choose to stay in the insanity.

In the center is Dr. Laing, a psychologist who straddles the divide between classes yet is too wrapped up in his own turmoil to stay above the clashes.  I left the film feeling that only the babysitters taking care of the lower floor children have any measure of sense.  There's not really any resolution, either; like with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, by the end the characters are wading in filth without questioning the source.  It's a surreal portrait of life that will win over critics and perform poorly at theaters.

High-Rise

2015, 118 minutes, directed by Ben Wheatley

descent into madness