Spontaneous Quick Review.

Have you ever seen a film this is undeniably taking all those ideas from several very well established genre playbooks but can arrange them in such a way that feels weirdly original? This was the question this critic was faced with wealth watching Spontaneous. Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer play two teenagers whose love story plays out against a pandemic of spontaneous combustion among there classmates. Part John Green Young Adult romance, part Heathers high school black comedy and part legitimate horror comedy with lashings of over the top explosions in all the right places. The script by director Brian Duffield is a strong contender for this critic best of the year list. Not only is the genre meld shockingly effective but it treats every tonal shift with an air of legitimacy not often seen in YA centric content. This is especially true with the second act which is probably the most rational dramatisation of a pandemic you are likely to see in 2020. The performances certainly help matters. Katherine Langford continues to prove why she is one of the most promising actresses working today and Plumber provides strong support.
Viewers could make the argument the ending might be slightly too nihilistic for the style of narrative. This is more forgivable thanks to a somewhat surprising turn at the end of the second act that like the rest of the film puts just enough spin on very well worn YA tropes. The film won’t be for everyone. At the end of the day, it is still a product of a specific genre and probably has the broadest appeal to the audience for that subgenre. It’s a shame the form has been released amid a real-life pandemic and doesn’t seem to have got a great deal of promotion.it’s worth seeking out for fans of the genre.
Spontaneous is one of the biggest pleasant surprises of 2020. Strong performances and an excellent script that gives each genre in melds the respect it deserves gives the film a very strong backbone It might be hard to swallow for viewers who are less familiar with the tropes of YA centric storeys. For those who are more accustomed to the playbook employed by these kinds of narratives, this is one of the best in recent memory. The film is available on UK VOD now and it’s worth a look as one of the stronger genre offerings in 2020.
8.5/10