High Life

A vast improvement over filmmaker Gary Yates’ last TIFF entry, 2004’s Seven Times Lucky, High Life follows a quartet of thugs (Timothy Olyphant’s Dick, Joe Anderson’s Donnie, Rossif Sutherland’s Billy, and Stephen Eric McIntyre’s Bug) as they conspire to rob several ATM machines at a local bank – although, as expected, the foursome’s clashing personalities ensure that the scheme doesn’t quite go off as planned. Yates, working with cinematographer Michael Marshall, has infused High Life with a washed-out, downright grimy visual sensibility that admittedly does take some time to get used to, with the relatively stagnant nature of the opening half hour exacerbating the movie’s less-than-enthralling atmosphere. There does reach a point, however, at which the viewer is slowly but surely drawn into the proceedings, as Yates superbly establishes the heist in both its planning stages and its execution – which, when coupled with the blistering pace and appreciatively short running time, proves effective at carrying the film right through to its thoroughly satisfying finale. The palpable chemistry between the four stars certainly goes a long way towards perpetuating the affable vibe, with Olyphant’s surprisingly straight-forward turn as the group’s ringleader an obvious highlight. And although the familiar subject matter ultimately lends the film an awfully slight sort of vibe, High Life nevertheless comes off as a fun, fast-moving caper flick that’ll surely thrill fans of the genre.

*** out of ****