Midlands Review of Cyberlante

midlandsmovies • October 3, 2020
Cyberlante

Directed by James Smith

2020

Raya Films

You’re a low or no budget local filmmaker so how do you get your hands on the expensive equipment needed to start your production? Well, the short answer is, you don’t. Cyberlante is a new local feature film from Raya Films directed by James Smith and is filmed entirely on a mobile phone.

With mainstream films such as Tangerine and Unsane using the same technique out of Hollywood, this Midlands film has utilised the flexibility, speed and high quality of modern smartphones to capture their drama about hacking and obsession.

Cyberlante begins with our lead Matt (played by Gavin Gordon) who is down on his luck and takes a boring job at a local hotel to earn his living. With support from his friend Ozzy (played by Domenic Tiberius Russo) he undertakes the menial work under the eye of obnoxious boss Clayton (Mark Peachey).

Discussing his previous work, we uncover Matt has utilised his internet expertise in less than honourable ways by hacking and scamming in the past. Has he moved beyond this? Well, the film shows how this skill can be put to use in another way, which helps uncover even worse deeds.

The first half an hour sets up the above, but in a weird way the film reverses the old adage ‘show don’t tell’ so much that I was itching for more “tell”. Especially the lack of dialogue to create drama and conflict in each scene. Instead there’s lots of contemplative walking. A faster pace could have really helped as there wasn’t a great deal of content here at the beginning. Most of the story by that point could have been set up in a third of the time.

However, my wish for a bit more narrative oomph does come in the second half though. Mark Peachey’s excellent role as the work bully develops into darker territory, as themes of cyber-stalking and tailing his ex-partners begin to bubble up in the story.

Funnily enough, this relationship drama could have started far earlier in the film – and is at times more interesting – with good performances from Emily Haigh and Mia Mills as the women hounded by Clayton’s mania. Mills delivers the film’s best joke stating everything in her world is “Absolutely peachy”. Top inside-joke pun work!


The use of technology is obviously a big part and Cyberlante uses different filmmaking techniques to visualise the use of mobile phones, web phone calls, online searches and surveillance style footage. Most, if not all, of this comes in the second half and as before, it wouldn’t be so bad to sprinkle this style a little earlier in the film.


Again, the technical side of things is the surprising standout here. The HD quality of shots look no different to a lot of local films I’ve seen, and kudos should go to director/cinematographer James Smith for such top-notch images throughout. Especially capturing the landscapes around Leicestershire.


Also of note is the fantastic location work (which ironically helped a lot given the current lockdown measures) and some chase scenes and punch ups towards the film’s ending, which ratchet up the stakes.


So Cyberlante does have a few drawbacks – a few more dramatic scenes to create tension and excitement were too few and far between – but there are lots of positives throughout.


But I recommend local filmmakers taking note. If you have a phone, you should be making films that look at least this good and if a budget is severely restricted  then for the right project, I’d leave your SLR at home and focus your efforts elsewhere.


In the end, Cyberlante’s biggest draw is its fantastic use of modern tech and its delivery of a project made solely on a smart phone. With a few minor flaws in its slow pace at the start, the truly real surprise is the quality of the filmmaking technique. It makes Cyberlante a production that has used all its limitations to its advantage with a sound story delving into the shady world of computers and criminality.


Michael Sales


The film has been RELEASED and is now ONLINE to watch on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyberlante-Gavin-Gordon/dp/B08K363ZZ2

Midlands Movies Awards 2026 - Full nominations

By midlandsmovies • April 26, 2026
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Pete Key, Jai Blanks and Jacob Christie for Countenance  Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)

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