Jim, played by the writer of this horror/comedy Danny Morgan, is a 29 year old virgin about to turn 30.
Jim, played by the writer of this horror/comedy Danny Morgan, is a 29 year old virgin about to turn 30. His pushy friend Alex (Michael Socha) is determined to get him to lose his cherry before the big three-O. When two sirens, Kitty and Lulu, walk into their bar and pay particularly close attention to Jim they can’t believe their luck. Men being men their blind to any warning sign that these femme fatales are on a very different mission. They need a virgin male to complete a blood sacrifice ritual that Kitty, more than Lulu, believe will re-animate their dead father. The four embark on a night on tiles with competing agendas that largely swing in siblings favour, but to everyone’s surprise, not least Jim, Lulu begins to lose sight of the overall mission and develops feelings for our hapless romeo.
DOUBLE DATE is beautifully written. Morgan’s ear for a gag and eye for the absurd is a constant throughout the film.
DOUBLE DATE is beautifully written. Morgan’s ear for a gag and eye for the absurd is a constant throughout the film. The sing-song at his parents house encapsulates this perfectly. Everyone is wearing t-shirts with Jim’s face printed on it while Jim is coming up on the MDMA he doesn’t know he’s taken.
Morgan has given Socha a personality to occupy that is at first cocky, but also full of warmth and respect for his unlucky in love friend.
Alex as Jim’s alpha male foil is handled well too. This character could so easily have been a nasty bullying presence in Jim’s life, but Morgan has given Socha a personality to occupy that is at first cocky, but also full of warmth and respect for his unlucky in love friend.
The sister’s relationship mirrors the boys: Kelly Wenham (Kitty) leads Georgia Groome (Lulu). Naturally, Jim is drawn to Lulu and vice versa. This leaves Kitty and Alex fighting it out for top dog – quite literally to the death towards the end of the film. Wenham is kickass as a psychotic killer vamp. Her kills are vicious and visceral. There is no quarter given to the very physical challenges her role and with the benefits of pre-film MMA training, this Cheshire born actor appears to be an exciting prospect for bigger action movie roles in the future.
Where it [DOUBLE DATE] succeeds most is with Morgan’s sense of humour.
There’s a great score by Swedish afro-funk, kraut rockers GOAT and the band even make a brief appearance during one of the club scenes.
DOUBLE DATE balances the dual demands of a horror/comedy in the sense that it spills plenty of blood and people must fight for their lives, but where it succeeds most is with Morgan’s sense of humour.
Special Q&A DOUBLE DATE screening at Prince Charles Cinema 5th September 2019.
There is a special DOUBLE DATE Q&A Screening at London's Prince Charles Cinema with director Benjamin Barfoot, producer Matt Wilkinson, and stars Michael Socha and Danny Morgan., Thursday 5th September 2019. Tickets
DOUBLE DATE is released on Blu/ray, DVD and digital 9th September 2019
