Catching Dust

Opening with a gunshot and a scream in what looks like an isolated location, the film swiftly switches to Clyde (Jai Courtney) and his wife Geena (Erin Moriaty).

It only takes around five minutes for writer and debut director Stuart Gatt to establish that the relationship is not in good health. Clyde, a hulk of a man, puts upon Geena sneering at her aspirations, throwing her drawings into the bin, humiliating her.

Into this arrive Andy (Ryan Corr) and his wife Amaya (Dina Shihabi) from New York looking to get away from the city at the Karl Madison Commune that has just Clyde and Geena as members.

There’s immediate tension with Clyde not at all happy that they decide to stay, or Amaya who was expecting a thriving community. Geena and Andy are more flexible finding they have something in common with their love of art. Andy, who teaches art, becoming something of a mentor to the talented yet ignorant Geena. It’s a classic townie/rural, oil and water situation.

There’s not a lot new here but Gatt keeps the intrigue going slowly dripping in information, developing the situation and the dynamics of the relationships. It’s also quite tense as the secrets are disclosed not least Clyde mentioning the name Copperhead (Olwen Fouéré) that suggests that the trailer site/commune is more of a hideaway.

While there’s no great deep characterisation Gatt develops the players enough to suit the changing undercurrents of their situation and surroundings. And its very effective with a fair amount of tension built over the course of the film. That is helped no end by the desert, sun parched location wonderfully captured by the photography.

Acting honours are fairly well distributed with all giving good performances. Courtney may just stand out because of his sheer physical presence however there are enough nuances for him to present a more complex character than might initially be thought.

Catching Dust will be available on digital from 20 January 2025.