Dosed

Directed by Nadine O'Mahony

2023

Punch / Gallery 37

Dosed is a new 7-minute short from Midlands director Nadine O’Mahony that explores a very tough situation caused by the intoxicating highs and lows of recreational drugs.

Opening in a dark club, a thumping soundtrack plays as a number of young people enjoy music and drinks - and perhaps a little something stronger too. Whether they know it or not.

Waking the next day still at the club, a worse-for-wear Polly (Georgia Neath) picks up a mobile phone call from her friend Florence (Emily Dilworth). But she soon discovers that the man whose drink they spiked the night before is now lying dead at a table.

The sickening sight sees the two ladies suggest ways to get rid of the body including dumping the corpse in the canal or simply saying he overdosed outside the club.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, or perhaps because of it, the two decide to do some cocaine whilst there’s still some left in order to handle the enormity of their problem.

Interrupting their crime clean-up is Florence’s wife Tabitha (Karendip Phull) who chastises the two for their hedonistic drug-taking and wild ways. Eventually discovering the body too, the short ends on a mysterious revelation that changes the situation for them all.

An excellent dark comedy, the director seems to have channelled inspiration from Edgar Wright with its quick-cutting sequences. Whilst the fast crime-dialogue, with its echoes of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, comes at you fast. Plus, it has a great outro song “Wake Up” by Birmingham-based Ellisse, J.S, Paranoid JC, DJ PIERO & G37 too.

The performances are excellent, especially Midlands Movies Awards winner Georgia Neath. She provides the pivotal role of the wired protagonist who the whole terrible situation revolves around. Revelling in the character’s disreputable actions, the actress still however makes her engaging, and even likeable, despite Polly’s questionable motivations.

But with a dose of physical comedy, witty dialogue and three great screen presences, this pitch-black crime satire packs in conflict, laughs and well-shot sequences to great effect. And through its perfectly-paced short film plot, stimulating characters and compact structure, you’ll be left feeling high as Dosed delivers plenty of satisfying moments in a very entertaining package.

★★★★★

5/5

Michael Sales