The Ones Below - 2015 film review

The Ones Below is a creepy British film from 2015 that deals in the anxieties common to new parents. The story is set in London and features an attractive, youngish couple, Kate and Justin (Clemence Poesy and Stephen Campbell Moore). They live in an upstairs flat and new neighbours move into the flat downstairs. This couple, Jon and Theresa, are played by the versatile and consistently impressive David Morrissey and Laura Birn. 

Kate and Justin are expecting their first child and so, it turns out, are Jon and Theresa. This creates a bond between the two couples, although it's clear from the outset that there is something slightly 'off' about Jon, and in particular with his apparently obsessive desire to become a father. His relationship with Theresa seems close, but is it also controlling?

The film is written and directed by David Farr. It was his feature debut, but he is a very experienced writer. His credits include episodes of Spooks, a top-class thriller series, and also The Night Manager. This story is quite different from that type of writing, but it's very well done, in my opinion. The tension is subtly developed and efficiently maintained from start to finish.

The relationship between the two couples breaks down after a terrible incident, which is open to misinterpretation. After that, there is an apparent reconciliation, but the viewer fears the worst. And with good reason. This is a dark crime film, and has certain depressing features, but I thought it was a gripping and accomplished piece of work.