A mind-bending image from Bulk. Featured Image Credit: Rook Films

Bulk  ★☆☆☆☆: Edinburgh International Film Festival

2 mins read

Multiverses are a great concept for story telling that have been the popular avenue for cinematic universes in the last couple of years. What’s not to love about them, you have the possibility of endless storytelling with minimal need to explain. 

Ben Wheatley is the latest in a long line of directors to try their hand at the trend, and just like many others, his attempt falls short. 

Bulk is a confusing mess of a film that explores a dimensional tear in reality caused by a machine known as the “brain collider”. An investigative journalist is sent into the rift to hunt down the man responsible for the cataclysmic event. 

Plot wise Bulk has a great hook, however as the film meanders through its over ninety minute runtime, plot takes a backseat to the sheer visual madness Wheatley presents. 

The black and white display, shortened aspect ratio and frantic editing style will work for many, especially fans of classic “midnight films”, however Bulk fails to capture the joy of that genre because it’s both too self aware and too self indulgent.

Wheatley pokes fun at his style many times throughout the film, but he often immediately undercuts his self aware comedy by throwing in more scientific jargon that adds nothing to the film. 

Comparisons to David Lynch’s mind-bending films can, and will, be made when Bulk is given a widespread release. Unfortunately, Wheatley can’t stick to a consistent tone like Lynch could.

When Bulk tries to be funny it doesn’t work, and that’s because Wheatley presents the film seriously for the most part.
Unfortunately Bulk doesn’t have the charm of Wheatley and Rook Films previous work. Art house films are important, but Bulk doesn’t have the charm that comes with a first time director trying something different.

Featured Image Credit: Rook Films

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