Schemers (2020) (Review)

 

Arriving in UK cinemas from Friday, Schemers tells the story of a young man who, after suffering a career-ending injury, finds himself embroidered in the seedy underbelly of Dundee to pay off a debt. Written, produced and directed by David Mclean who paints his Scottish hometown on the screen, Schemers is a based on a true story effort looking to strike up a deal with UK cinemagoers.

Presenting audiences with a coming-of-age story well contextualised by its early 80s backdrop and era-defining soundtrack, Schemers has a strong sense of place, informed by its helmer's own experiences and roots in the city. Its authentic depiction greatly benefits the story and its refreshing to see a new location on our screens; while hardly the most glowing portrayal the city could ask for, it offers the film at least some originality in a sea of similarly-themed underdog stories.

Instantly, you read the description of the film and immediately draw parallels with Danny Boyle's Trainspotting; it's something many films based in Scotland, rather unfairly, have had to contend with on the coattails of the 1996 favourite - but Schemers never once attempts to shake those similarities, leaning into them with its consistent freeze-framing, narration and thematic exploits. While a smaller budget has evidently limited its technical abilities, by following so closely in the footsteps of such a beloved cult classic, Schemers never finds a creativity of its own to utilise and ends up feeling like a pale imitation.

What it struggles with most though is its characters; while lead Conor Berry gives an enthusiastic performance, Davie is never a particularly compelling, or even likeable, protagonist; such indifference towards the lead character, nevermind supporting players, means the film fails to leave a mark, lacking anything memorable or particularly worthwhile. Spending more time building these characters would have helped our connection and understanding of their motivations, but the screenplay places more focus on advancing a rather derivative plot instead.

Intermittently charming, Schemers is not without its impressive moments but it is a shame that it cannot escape the shadow of the superior films it reminds you of. While it's hardly a homerun, it does prove to be a solid foundation for the new and emerging talent - David Mclean shows particular promise in his ability to develop tone, with his portrayal of Dundee one that feels both needed and authentic, while Conor Berry could thrive with the right material. 

Summary: Hardly the most inventive scheme, Schemers is a well-meaning, watchable effort that lacks the creativity to leave a mark on audiences.