Terrestrial

When Ryan (James Morosini), his fiancé Maddie (Pauline Chalamet) and friend Vic (Edy Modica) see what old college friend Allen (Jermaine Fowler) has done for himself they are overwhelmed, happy for him, along with an undercurrent of scepticism.

On the strength of an unpublished book, of which the film rights have already been snapped up, Allen has bought a huge house and garden with a mustang outside.

Things become more surreal when the party stumble on a collection of items that stem from a series of Sc-Fi books and a tv series written by SJ Purcell (Brendan Hunt). It’s not unusual for fans to collect these sorts of items but the collection is huge. Allen however can quote the books almost verbatim and have had a palpable influence on him.

And yet Ryan keeps picking away, what is his book about? Allen’s summary is not convincing. And when they are down for breakfast next day there’s so little food that Ryan and Maddie have gone shopping leaving Vic with the pickles.

To compound things Allen has mood swings, is at times weary, beady eyed and prone to strange things like dealing with the rubbish while at lunch. There’s a gradual build-up of mistrust between the friends, and then Allen finds an intruder in the house, and the film turns back three months.

Director Steve Pink and writers Connor Diedrich and Samuel Johnson have already sown the seeds of doubt and what follows is an intricate, powerful film of a man who loses control of his life, through bad decisions, and his own mental frailty that blurs his reality and fantasy.

This is a tour de force performance from Fowler as he navigates an ever more complicated self-created situation, contending with elements over which he had no control. Yet others where his arrogance and hubris blind him to the obvious.

However there is still room for sympathy for this man who so badly wants to be a writer. Working all hours in a menial job while writing his manuscript only to be rejected at every turn. And when finds that he does have something to offer is taken advantage of.

The film technically is outstanding as Pink and the writers bring sub-plots into play, further develop characters and create situations with barely a ripple.

Terrestrial had its UK Premiere at Tubi FrightFest London 2026.