This film is part of Rentals
The Darkest Universe
The new film from the makers of Black Pond is a wonderfully strange comedy about missing people, narrowboats and astrophysics.
Director: Will Sharpe and Tom Kingsley
Overview
The second feature from Will Sharpe and Tom Kingsley (Black Pond) is an uncategorisably strange comedy about absence and astrophysics; where houseboats meet the Heisenberg principle. Zac (Sharpe) is a short-tempered city trader drawn into a family mystery when his sister Alice (Tiani Ghosh, who co-wrote with Sharpe) and her fey boyfriend Toby (Joe Thomas) disappear while narrowboating through London’s canals.
Confronted with the distinct disinterest of Toby’s family and the police, Zac mounts his own homespun search operation, an increasingly futile quest that eventually extends to an underpowered social media campaign, blogging and bespoke merchandising. With its themes around loss, existence and insignificance Sharpe and Kingsley have crafted a curious, cosmic comedy from the unlikeliest of elements. Combining perfectly formed pathos with a host of wonderfully wry performances from its performers (which include Chris Langham), The Darkest Universe is both a hilarious British comedy a thought-provoking, visually arresting indie feature
strong language, infrequent sex references
Related
Patrick Patrick
Drama 2019 96 mins Director: Tim Mielants
Life on the nudist colony is fairly routine for handyman Patrick (Kevin Janssens), that is until the mystery of his missing hammer sets in motion a quest of self-discovery.
Love & Friendship Love & Friendship
Comedy 2016 93 mins Director: Whit Stillman
Whit Stillman crosses the Atlantic for this irresistible Jane Austen adaptation, following the delicious and devious exploits of Lady Susan.
The Beta Test The Beta Test
Horror 2021 93 mins Director: Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe
After hit Thunder Road, Jim Cummings returns with a thriller about a Hollywood agent who becomes ensnared in a sinister world of sex, lies and murder.
Prevenge Prevenge
Comedy 2017 88 mins Director: Alice Lowe
Alice Lowe directs and stars in this riotous tale of a pregnant serial killer, hellbent on revenge.
It's Raining Men It's Raining Men
Comedy 2023 123 mins Director: Caroline Vignal
Iris (Laure Calamy) disrupts her bourgeois routine by joining a dating app and embarking on an amusing, sensual quest for identity and lost desire.
The Penguin Lessons The Penguin Lessons
Drama 2025 112 mins Director: Peter Cattaneo
Steve Coogan is superb as a disillusioned teacher whose life is turned upside-down when he rescues a penguin in turbulent 1970s Argentina.
Chevalier Chevalier
Comedy 2015 105 mins Director: Athina Rachel Tsangari
Athina Rachel Tsangari's biting and hilarious dissection of the male ego was awarded Best Film at the 2015 BFI London Film Festival.
Toni Erdmann Toni Erdmann
Comedy 2016 162 mins Director: Maren Ade
A lonely prankster upends the life of his high-powered daughter in a riotous comedy, deep and sharp.
A Man Called Ove A Man Called Ove
Comedy 2015 116 mins Director: Hannes Holm
A curmudgeon turns over a new leaf in this Oscar-nominated comedy that became one of Swedish cinema’s biggest hits.
Everybody Wants Some!! Everybody Wants Some!!
Drama 2014 117 mins Director: Richard Linklater
A gang of wild college jocks enjoy three days of freewheeling fun before school starts, in Richard Linklater’s ‘spiritual sequel’ to Boyhood and Dazed and Confused.
The Big Sick The Big Sick
Comedy 2017 120 mins Director: Michael Showalter
The hilarious, breakout indie comedy about a Pakistan-born comedian and his culture-clash relationship with an American grad student.
Brakes Brakes
Comedy 2017 85 mins Director: Mercedes Grower
Breakups have never been funnier, as Mercedes Grower's all-star, ensemble comedy charts the end of various affairs. With Julian Barratt, Steve Oram, Julia Davis and Noel Fielding.
Black Pond Black Pond
Comedy 2011 82 mins Director: Will Sharpe and Tom Kinglsey
Writer and director Will Sharpe (The White Lotus) stars in his BAFTA-nominated comedy in which a family are accused of murdering a stranger.
Black Pond Black Pond
Comedy 2011 82 mins Director: Will Sharpe and Tom Kinglsey
Writer and director Will Sharpe (The White Lotus) stars in his BAFTA-nominated comedy in which a family are accused of murdering a stranger.
Rodeo Rodeo
Drama 2022 106 mins Director: Lola Quivoron
French debut director Lola Quivoron revs up with a ferocious tale of a woman kickstarting a new life in the world of guerrilla motocross racing.
Clemency Clemency
Drama 2019 112 mins Director: Chinonye Chukwu
Alfre Woodard is quietly devastating as a weary prison warden presiding over her twelfth execution, in this Sundance-winning death row drama.
Ida Ida
Drama 2014 82 mins Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
An exquisitely shot, moving drama about a Polish nun exploring her family past, which won a BAFTA for director Pawel Pawlikowski.
Plan 75 Plan 75
Science Fiction 2022 113 mins Director: Chie Hayakawa
Faced with a rapidly ageing population, a government in near-future Japan rolls out an unsettling agenda.
Cairo Conspiracy Cairo Conspiracy
Drama 2022 126 mins Director: Tarik Saleh
A fisherman’s son is offered a place at a prestigious Islamic school in Cairo and finds himself drawn into a religious and political power struggle.
The Night of the 12th The Night of the 12th
Drama 2022 114 mins Director: Dominik Moll
A newly promoted detective is assigned to a young woman’s chilling murder in this deeply arresting crime thriller based on true events.