Rumours | VIFF 2024 | Review by: Stefano Bove

Rumours is a black comedy film written and directed by Guy Madden, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson. The film centers around the 7 world leaders that are part of the G7 as they attend one of their summits in order to discuss catastrophic global events. While at the summit many unexplainable events begin to occur and they must navigate their way around bog bodies and a giant brain. In the process of this phenomenon, they must work together to survive as well as finish a speech that is weighing heavily on their shoulders. 

The cast in this film playing the world leaders are all fantastic and they all get equal screen time. All of the humour comes at the expense of the world leaders and their inability to work together, understand global issues and their citizens. One of the funniest castings is Charles Dance who plays the American president. The man is 77 years old in real life but he is in incredible shape but they make him look weak and incompetent, clearly making fun of Joe Biden here. 

Not every joke hits the mark but maybe I am just not that versed enough in world politics to understand some of them. Tonally the film goes to a complete extreme, which is either something people would love or hate. The movie is definitely strange but that is what is it trying to be. If you like political dark humour, you may like what rumours has to offer.

3/5

Review by: Stefano Bove