“Best Thriller”

★★★★

“Bugaloo is an exceptionally crafted thriller that was well written, well performed and well executed.”

Theo is on the run from the police while still in handcuffs. He hides out in a nearby mansion with the help of Arthur, the supposed owner. Things take a turn for the strange when Arthur challenges him to a game of Bugaloo and Theo realises Arthur has his own problems. A failed escape leaves Theo playing a game for his own life.

Directors Peter McCarthy & Ben Conway jump start their dramatic Thriller ‘Bugaloo’ from the get go. What starts off as a simple chase from the cops for ‘Theo’, soon descends into madness as he meets ‘Arthur’. What we’re left with is a disturbing and nail biting film that will leave audiences on the edge of their seat.

Ben Conway takes on the writing and has a distinct approach with a relatively simple set up. But it’s how the film develops is what makes this more and more interesting. The dialogue is both memorable and used to great effect with the subtle actions.

Both Moe Dunford and Ruairí Heading bring a lot to the table here and work great off each other. Even though Ruairí Heading as Theo is on the run from the police, he quickly becomes the heart of the audience as he becomes stuck in an even more terrifying situation. Their is a sense of honesty and authenticity about him that’s believable. The ending gives him a chance of redemption for the character that we want. Moe Dunford plays his role with a deep sense of pain without being a typical ‘psycho’ that simply acts strange. Both characters work well and have great chemistry with each other.

The pacing and editing of the film is tight, keeping you interested and invested. The cinematography from Burschi Wognar is dramatic and doesn’t distract from the performances, letting the story unfold for itself which is compelling enough.

Bugaloo is an exceptionally crafted thriller that was well written, well performed and well executed. This would be an intriguing concept for a feature length film where we could explore the characters further. Excellent job to all involved…

— APEX Film Awards