Blockhead

We first meet Will Mercer (Danny Horn) on stage lecturing to other writers in fairly manic form, looking dishevelled and tired. As a writer he’s suffering from the dreaded block, and under massive pressure from his agent and he in turn from the publisher.

An added complication is its affecting his relationship with Daisy (Hussina Raja) and his mentor fellow writer Maggie (Michele Moran). Maggie offers Will her disused flat hoping that he can use the space and isolation for inspiration.

The flat is barely furnished and while setting up, a vulgar decorator turns up to do some work. Mikey (Joe Sims) overhears a conversation between Will and David (Richard Glover) his agent who is applying some pressure. Mikey offers to ‘do him’, which then changes to taking Will out for a drink. In the pub Will gets some idea of the person he is with when after he’s humiliated by a couple of pool players, Mikey beats the pair up.

This somehow inspires Will and he starts to write. However its now in a darker direction that worries Maggie and David. The latter eventually losing faith with Will and shunting him from a project. Natch this is dealt with by Mikey.
Further praying on Will is a manuscript he was asked to read from a budding writer and an incident that happened six years before coming back to him in nightmares.

Matt Harlock’s first narrative film is an intriguing psychological thriller that blends in dreams, flashback into a robust central story. It's not a character study as such rather a study of the effects that past decisions and actions have on the present. Will is trapped by his memories and actions leaving him on the verge of destruction.

It’s a very good performance from Horn as the reality of his situation and what he has unleashed begin to take over. Sims has an equally difficult job with a character that could come over as just a plain nasty caricature, where there is considerable substance to him.

Blockhead had its World Premiere at London FrightFest, August 2025.