Manfish (2022 film)
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Manfish is a 2022 micro-budget independent British comedy horror / fantasy / sci fi feature film, written and directed by Bafta Best Comedy finalist, Marc Coleman. Starring Dean Kilbey, Emma Stannard, Matty Noble and Jon Campling, the script is set in Canvey Island, Essex. It features the exploits of Terry and his girlfriend Tracy who find a humanoid sea creature washed up on Canvey beach. Tracey tries to exploit the creature but Terry develops feelings for it.
The film does not make fun of the relationship between Terry and Manfish, and handles the topic of interspecies love sensitively, instead finding humour in other places..[1]. It balances comedy visuals and dialogue with earnestness and ruminations on loneliness and alienation[2] and carries the message that love doesn’t care about gender, race or sexuality[3].
Plot[edit]
We meet Terry as a downtrodden middle-aged adult man who is out of work, depressed and suicidal. His drug dealing girlfriend Tracy is foul mouthed, verbally abusive and controlling. After Terry finds Manfish on the beach they take it home and try to keep it alive. Tracey thinks it will make them rich and enlists Terry's older criminal brother 'Nasty Nigel' to find a buyer for Manfish. Tracey is sleeping with 'Nasty Nigel', a local small time criminal, ostensibly behind Terry's back.
Terry is tasked by Tracey and Nigel with hiding Manfish at Terry's home until they sell it, but Terry and Manfish quickly develop feelings for each other even though they can't communicate. When Manfish escapes, Nigel and his gang find him and cage him ready to sell to their buyer. The race is then on for Terry to rescue and save Manfish, and find a way for them to continue their budding romance[4].
Production[edit]
Origins[edit]
Director Marc Coleman started out as a comedy actor who went on to start making his own comedy shorts and sketches, which taught him how to shoot, edit and direct, before retiring as an actor and focusing on film full time. Coleman grew up near Canvey Island and has been a long term horror fan[5].
The Manfish idea came from director Coleman pushing himself to write feature film loglines in mid-2020 to see if he could pursue writing any of them. After Coleman came up with the idea, he had a first draft by October, and began filming in March 2022.
Coleman's inspirations include a Jon Pertwee‘Sea Devils’ episode from Dr Who, the monster film Creature from The Black Lagoon, the romantic fantasy film The Shape of Water, romantic fantasy comedy film Splash and Ben Wheatley’s Down Terrace.
The Manfish creature mask was sculpted by Steve Braund of Mind Magic Studios based on concept art by Nik Corrall[6]
Cast and Crew[edit]
Directed by Marc Coleman
Written by Marc Coleman
Produced by Marc Coleman, Gav Mukerji
Dean Kilbey - Terry
Emma Stannard - Tracy
Matty Noble - Manfish
Jon Campling - Old Harry Salt
Liam Noble - Nigel
David Alexander - Choc Ice
Paul Trussell - George
Eloise Dale - Cheryl
Reis Daniel - Scott
Monica Gaga - Big Dawn
Cinematography - Dan Emmons
Production Designer - James Walker
Costume Designer - Nik Corrall
Special Effects - Steve Braund, Martin Harwdwick, James Walker
Filming[edit]
The film was shot late in March 2021[6] over 12 days, with 3 days on location in Canvey Island where the story is set[5]. Everything outside was short in natural light with one or two takes.
Locations[edit]
Canvey island, Essex.
The Isle of Sheppey, Kent
Redbridge, London.
Reception[edit]
Critical reception[edit]
Manfish received praise when it screened at film festivals during 2022. It was described as ''The Shape of Water' meets 'Snatch''.[5], 'brilliantly funny and bizarre'[7], 'hilarious and heartfelt, quite a remarkable film anchored by a smart script, great creature design and stellar performances'[2]
Audience reaction[edit]
As of July 2023, independent audience ratings for Manfish are 3.5/5 on Letterboxd and 8.4/10 on IMDb.
Accolades[edit]
Awards and nominations include:
2023 National Film Awards
- Nominated - Best Independent Film 2023[8]
2022 GenreBlast Film Festival[9]
- Won - Best Actor, Feature - Dean Kilbey
- Won - Best On-Screen Duo - Emma Stannard, Dean Kilbey
- Nominated - Best FX Feature Film - Manfish
- Nominated - Best Actress Feature Film - Emma Stannard
- Nominated - Best Director Feature Film - Marc Coleman
- Nominated - Best Actor Feature Film - Dean Kilbey
- Nominated - Best Cinematography Feature Film - Manfish
- Nominated - Best Score Feature Film - Manfish
- Nominated - Best Poster Feature Film - Manfish
- Nominated - Best Supporting Actor Feature Film - Liam Noble
- Nominated - Best Comedy Feature - Manfish
- Nominated - Best Sci-fi Fantasy Feature - Manfish
- Nominated - Best Villain - Manfish
2022 Romford Film Festival[10]
- Won - Best Feature Film - Marc Coleman
- Won - Best Local Film - Marc Coleman
- Nominated - Best Director - Marc Cleman
- Nominated - Best Actor - Dean Kilbey
- Nominated - Best Cinematography Dan Emmons
2022 Sci Fi London Film Festival
- Won - Best Feature Film - Marc Coleman
Release[edit]
Manfish had its world premiere at Horror on Sea in January 2022. As of 2023, Manfish is available on Amazon Prime Video, Sky Store and Vudu.
Production company: Double Dinner Films
Distributor: Moviehouse Entertainment
Release date: 31 December 2022.
Running time: 81 minutes.
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
References[edit]
- ↑ bandsaboutmovies (2022-09-07). "GENREBLAST FILM FESTIVAL: ManFish (2022)". B&S About Movies. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mintzer, Kelly (2022-09-13). "GenreBlast 2022: Manfish". Morbidly Beautiful. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ↑ "Nerdly » Romford Horror Festival 2022: 'Manfish' Review". Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ↑ "Sci-Fi-London: Manfish". Picturehouses. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Rogers, Philip (2022-02-23). "Exclusive Interview with ManFish Director Marc Coleman • Blazing Minds". Blazing Minds. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "ManFish director and writer Marc Coleman: "Weird is good, long live weird"". SciFiNow. 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ↑ "Film Review: MANFISH (2022) | HORROR SCREAMS VIDEO VAULT - SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT HORROR". horrorscreamsvideovault.co.uk. 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ↑ Joseph, Sara (2023-05-17). "Nominations for the 9th annual National Film Awards are announced". National Film Awards. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ↑ "AWARDS". genreblastff. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
- ↑ "Romford Horror Festival 2022 - And The Winners Are". www.romfordfilmfestival.com. 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2023-07-30.
External links[edit]
Manfish at British Film Council
Manfish at Moviehouse Entertainment
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