Nina Forever Review

3 stars for this gruesome and highly original love story.

Nina Forever is written and directed by Ben Blaine and Chris Blaine (Bad Education, Hello Panda) and comes at horror comedy from a whole new direction.

It won critical acclaim upon its release on the film festival circuit and is certainly unlike anything I have seen before. British films are often innovative and this is no exception, Ben and Chris Blaine are fearless in their storytelling.

It tells us the story of Rob (Cian Barry – Real Playing Game), a young man whose world has been turned upside down by the sudden death of his girlfriend Nina (Fiona O’Shaughnessy – Utopia, Until Death) in a car accident. A former maths PhD student, he is now aimlessly stacking shelves at a supermarket with no real direction in life.

After a failed suicide attempt, he attracts the attention of Holly (Abigail Hardingham – Freak, The Sparticle Mystery), fellow supermarket employee who is also training as a paramedic. Holly has an unhealthy fascination with the darker side of life and sets her sights on the unsuspecting Rob.

Things take a somewhat sinister turn however when they attempt to be intimate. They are unexpectedly joined by Nina, in all her battered glory as she rises from the bed sheets in a huge puddle of blood, demanding to know why Rob has a new girlfriend.

All this leads to a very strange love triangle, with Holly and Rob having to deal with constant changing of the bed sheets and constant interruptions from a dead but very angry ex girlfriend. There is also the issue of Nina’s parents to deal with, as Holly has serious doubts about their relationship with Rob.

Nina Forever is a very good film, highly original if a little difficult to watch. It does make you wince quite frequently, which it is of course supposed to. The subject matter is highly sensitive and although this is a comedy it is also so dark as to not really be funny.

The acting is excellent even though it must have been pretty hard to film and they spend the majority of their time naked. Abigail Hardingham won “Most Promising Newcomer” at the British Independant Film Awards for her performance and deservedly so.

All in all a very good watch. Not one for the faint hearted but if you think you can handle it then well worth adding to your collection.

“I can’t do this anymore. I can’t look at you without seeing her. It’s never gonna work out, is it?”

Nina Forever is available to buy now on DVD and Blu-ray and will be released  on 22nd February 2016.