Julien Neaves, Caribbean Head Writer
One of my all-time favourite television shows is the science fiction anthology series The Twilight Zone (1959-1964). From the moment I heard the intriguing, melodic voice of creator and narrator Rod Serling I was hooked. And I was reminded of this iconic series when I heard the intriguing, melodic voice of veteran actor and producer Hansley Ajodha doing the opening narration of new Trinidad and Tobago psychological thriller anthology series Tales of the Mind, which he also directed.
The film follows closely on the heels of his directing debut, the thriller film Infidelity which was released back in March and also from his production company Golden Eye Productions. But instead of one main story, Tales of the Mind features three: “A Cry in the Dark”, “Willi Chen’s Tainted Blood” and “The Girl”. So, prepare yourself as we dive into all three stories in a place that I’d like to call The Thriller Zone!
The first tale, “A Cry in the Dark”, is the darkest of the three on offer. It follows a man spending a night at a hotel. But his hope for rest is disturbed by creepy, unexplained voices and unsettling visions. And star Adesh Deonarine is believable as a terribly haunted man.
I really liked “A Cry in the Dark”. There is a tense atmosphere throughout, and it often creeps from thriller territory into full-blown horror. From this short, I think Ajodha could deliver a great horror film. I won’t spoil the story (or the other two for that matter) but it has a cool twist. More could have been done with the concept and there is messaging that is somewhat heavy handed (an overall issue with the film), but it is an enjoyable watch.
The second tale “Tainted Blood” is based on the classic play by Willi Chen and expands beyond the confines of a police station. The story is an action crime thriller, with the first act featuring gunplay and fisticuffs. It then shifts to a more subtle exploration of the seeds of crime and corruption.
Veteran actor Kenneth Boodhu is a highlight of “Tainted Blood” and plays a morally grey police chief with lots of nuance and presence. He also appears alongside his real-life son Sanjiv Boodhu who did great work in the award-winning drama Doubles. The middle story not only has the best performances of the three but also the best dialogue.
The different pieces of the story could have gelled better together, but the final act is an intense, riveting display that brings it all home. “Tainted Blood” is the strongest of the three Tales of the Mind and the one I enjoyed the most.
The third and final story, “The Girl”, is the lightest entry in the anthology and has mild thriller elements. It follows a young man devastated by the recent death of his father who keeps encountering a cheery but odd young woman.
The plot of “The Girl” is a touching one and deals with themes of grief, hope and despair. Actress Marina Mohan is bright and energetic as the mysterious girl and Sharda Maharaj is solid as the young man’s mother who is also contending with her own grief. Lead actor Pranava Maharaj is a bit weak in the main role and the dialogue for him could have been meatier. But it is a resonant watch that ends these tales on an emotional note.
Three very different stories with a variety of tones, Tales of the Mind is a memorable viewing journey.
Editor Jules Score: 6.5 out of 10
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Julien “Editor Jules” Neaves is a TARDIS-flying, Force-using Trekkie whose bedroom stories were by the Cryptkeeper, learned to be a superhero from Marvel, but dreams of being Batman. I love promoting Caribbean film (Cariwood), creating board games and I am an aspiring author. I say things like “13 flavours of awesome sauce”. Read more.