Review of The Show
midlandsmovies • October 23, 2021
The Show (2021) Dir. Mitch Jenkins
A feature film set in Northampton (the first shot is even a welcome sign!) AND Alan Moore putting his name to a film production? Miracles can occur in new feature The Show from director and frequent Moore-collaborator Mitch Jenkins.
The Show, Mitch’s first full-length feature, follows Tom Burke as Fletcher Dennis who goes to Northampton looking for a man called Mitchum. Even the names “Mitch”/”Mitchum” quickly shows how reality and fiction blur which becomes a huge recurring theme later. And our lead has been tasked with finding a golden heirloom Mitchum is supposed to own.
Booking himself into a recently available flat, his (vague) goal sees him cross paths with a bunch of mysterious characters including a superhero-masked librarian (hello Watchmen) – and after finding Mitchum dead at a hospital, he quizzes a patient called Faith (Siobhan Hewlett) who appears to know information pertaining to the enigma.
For Midlands film-fans, familiar town sites including the public library appear regularly and his new “land-lady” Becky (Ellie Bamber) regales tid-bits and facts about Northampton at various points in the story.
Moore’s writing sees the film mixing dreams and illusions as well as many allusions to his previous work. “Comedians” and a sad circular face echo Watchmen, whilst info about the Gunpowder plot’s connections to Northampton nod to V for Vendetta. More strangely, Moore, whose disdain for the Hollywood versions of his graphic novels, does deliver a host of broader film genre pastiches too.
When Fletcher goes to a detective agency there’s a 1940s gumshoe tone with words like “dollface” and “broad” being spoken by a red-lipped secretary. It’s then hit home by literally turning black and white as he questions some Bugsy Malone-looking children who run the business. WTF?
There’s a fair bit of exposition to the tale, which takes away from the vibrant surreal fantasy moments but then again, nothing is really explained particularly either. This will lead to either audience intrigue or confusion. I’m still not sure which for me.
Tone wise it’s akin to Season 3 of TV’s The League of Gentlemen – extraordinary - where a host of bizarre characters inhabit a small Midlands town with a huge dose of dark intrigue and a smidgen of comedic moments in British-infused skits.
The pastiches mostly hit their target but it all feels a bit spot-the-reference than it does provide any meaningful link to the story, and certainly not the mystery itself.
From Northampton’s normal front, it’s great to see a whole host of creative ideas pour out of the overlooked Midlands town demonstrating there’s a huge dollop of creativity stemming from this seemingly-ordinary area.
As Fletcher tries to put the puzzle pieces together (good luck with doing it yourself) the clues lead to a pair of old-style comedians who died in a nightclub. And Moore cameos himself as a moon-coiffed entity playing circus-y music and later delivering Gandalf-y personal advice.
Moore’s wordy writing and finer details echo his iconic comic masterpieces but the film is both on-the-nose (in its themes) but also often befuddling and unclear. If you’re a fan of Moore’s work, a fan of detective noir or a fan of Midlands film (who isn’t eh?) then The Show doesn’t skimp on a smorgasbord of wacky ideas and stories though.
“God made the country, but he didn’t make the town”, says a taxi driver at the start of the movie and together Mitch and Moore are a great combination to make THIS town a character in itself.
Despite a low budget, its enjoyment will definitely depend on whether you go along with the movie’s peculiar idiosyncrasies but those who do will find a wild film from the Midlands that Moore is finally happy to put his name to.
★★★½
The Show is available on digital platforms from 18 October.
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 for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour 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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