Another day, another set of the same chores for ‘The Volunteer’ (Mary Woodvine). The Volunteer is all we will ever know her as. Basically the same tedious tasks – checking the status of some flowers, dropping a rock down a big hole and listening for a splash, and taking the temperature – over and over. A simple log to record the temperature and same observation “No Change” – rinse and repeat the next day. Winding down with some tea, the radio, and reading a survival guide. It’s enough to make anyone crazy, living it or watching it.
Then some things begin to change. Did that giant rock actually move? Who are these other people that quickly flash by? This younger woman in the house that I sometimes talk to – is she real? What is happening to the scar on my stomach? As The Volunteer continues on in isolation, her mental state fluctuates. It is difficult to discern what is actually happening and what is in the mind.
The main issue with the film is what actually happens on screen with what Jenkin leads the audience to believe could happen. The first portion follows The Volunteer through her daily monotony. Subtle foreshadowing of an ominous presence is littered throughout. From her bright red jacket juxtaposed against the rest of her surroundings to her daily reading being a Blueprint for Survival, there are signs everywhere. As The Volunteer’s mental state devolves, questions of what is real or not engross the film. Yet there are no true scares. There is a creepy aura around the film, but nothing truly scary. The artistic nature of Enys Men may be a draw to some, but the lack of any action will be a detriment to more. All things considered, Enys Men simply doesn’t not have enough that happens to make it worth a watch.
Enys Men is in select theaters now.