3 star unnerving body-image horror film.
A Banquet is a British horror/thriller written by Justin Bull (Merge) and an impressive feature directorial debut from Ruth Paxton, who shows a great deal of promise. Originally a Shudder exclusive, it is available on Limited Edition Blu-ray from 31st October 2022, courtesy of Second Sight Films, perfect for Halloween.
“You’re not crazy. There is something going on and we will find out what it is.”
A Banquet opens with a harrowing sequence which introduces Holly (Sienna Guillory – Clifford the Big Red Dog) as the caregiver for her terminally ill husband. As she prepares his food he falls to the floor dead from suicide in a pool of his own blood as her daughter Betsey (Jessica Alexander – Glasshouse) looks on.
Time moves on and Holly, Betsey and her other daughter Isabelle (Ruby Stokes – Bridgerton) are trying to get on with their lives. Betsey is asked what really interests her by her guidance councillor, a question which seeems to unsettle her. Following a bad experience with drugs at a party, she wanders off under a red moon and has an epiphany.
The result of this is that she stops eating altogether, losing interest in the elaborate meals her mother prepares, although she doesn’t lose any weight. Medical personnel can find nothing physically wrong but the family are pushed to their limits. Her grandmother June (Lindsay Duncan – About Time, Under the Tuscan Sun) isn’t buying it but her words fall on deaf ears. Can this family hold itself together in the face of Betsey’s illness?
“We’ve all got problems darling. Don’t be the show. Get up and come down for lunch.”
A Banquet is a deeply unsettling film and should definitely not be watched if you are planning to eat a big meal. Betsey’s growing horror at all things food is so well done, with excellent camera shots and lighting, that it is almost contagious.
The acting is superb all round, these four women are a formidable force on camera together. That’s why I felt it was a shame when the story strayed outside the household, the power of this film lies in the relationships.
It takes a good hard look at some serious issues, terminal illness, suicide, eating disorders and does so without shying away. It’s just a shame that the story is a little ambiguous in places and the end feels like it isn’t enough of a pay off for all the drama that came before.
Having said that, it’s still a really good film and well worth adding to your collection.
“Do you know what it’s called? It’s anorexia. You know who gets it? Entitled middle class white girls.”
A Banquet is available to buy on Limited Edition Blu-ray from 31st October 2022.
Special Features
- Deformity of the Flesh: An Interview with Ruth Paxton
- Improvised Exorcism: An interview with Jessica Alexander
- Produced in a Pandemic: An interview with Leonora Darby
- Dark Edges: An interview with David Liddell
- Glasgow Film Festival Q&A with Ruth Paxton, Jessica Alexander & Sienna Guillory
- Family Disorder: The Making of a Banquet
Limited Edition Contents
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Jen Davies
- Soft cover book with new essays by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Jennie Kermode & Anya Stanley
- 6 collectors’ art cards
| Director | Ruth Paxton |
| Genre | Horror, mystery, thriller |
| Starring | Sienna Guillory, Jessica Alexander, Ruby Stokes, Lindsay Duncan |
Available to buy on :  | |