'Sky Peals' review: Slow-moving drama about isolation is more meditative than entertaining

THE directorial debut of Moin Hussain was screened at the Venice Film Festival in 2023 and is now having a UK cinema release on August 9.

The story revolves around a young man, Adam (Faraz Ayub), who works in a fast food restaurant at a bleak motorway service station.

A minimal interaction with the outside world means Adam doesn’t have any friends and prefers working in the kitchen during the nightshift.

His English mother (Claire Rushbrook) has moved away, and Adam faces eviction from his home.

Things get complicated further when it emerges that his estranged Pakistani father (Jeff Mirza) has died under mysterious circumstances.

As seemingly strange things start to occur, an increasingly isolated Adam becomes convinced his father might have been an alien from another planet. He tries to uncover the truth and embarks on a journey from darkness to daylight.

Instead of being a science-fiction movie, Sky Peals is more an exploration of the lead protagonist’s psyche and feeling of being an alien. He is unable to express himself to those around him - including his mother, colleagues, an endearing uncle and a well-mannered manager.

Ayub delivers an outstanding lead performance and captures the complex mental psyche of the protagonist really well. The director sets up an intriguing premise, but doesn’t quite follow through with a plotline that is more about mental health and trying to find a way back from the brink, rather than anything otherworldly.

This may work well for those willing to look for metaphors or who can relate to the feeling of being alone. However, others will feel frustrated by questions left unanswered, inconsistencies in the storyline and the painfully slow pace.

The writer/director misses a big opportunity to add an entertaining angle, which will subsequently limit the audience.

Ultimately, this artistically shot movie is more meditative than being an entertaining cinema experience and will reward those patience enough to immerse themselves in it.