Very well executed

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The beginning prattles on a bit. Andrew Fitch is Jack, a rather pretentious fellow who sees himself above those around him. Jack is carrying on an affair with Vera, the wife of his BFF. Jack despises her use of a cell phone. He would not shackle himself to such a device. He purposely keeps one of her earrings to use at a later convenience. Vera doesn't know the half of it wen she mentions Jack is less than sentimental. Jack invites his uncle, Major Burns, a respected investigator; Vera; BFF Frank and Inspector Marcus Evans to a night of dining and games. Uncle Burns is a thorn in Jack's side. Jack views him as pompous (the irony is obviously lost on Jack. BFF Frank is the next to arrive. Jack seems disappointed when Vera arrives ahead of the Inspector. Nonetheless, Jack continues his mind games despite the upset. The movie drags a bit then Jack livens things up with discussion of a "Perfect Murder" (Which most of know is not possible) and not so nonchalantly informing Frank that Vera is having an affair. Jack conveniently omits that he is her lover, of course. He merely wants to see Frank's reaction. Heated commentary ensues. Vera does her best to deny the affair. Frank isn't buying any of it. Jack is of course delighted at the interaction. Emotions flare and conversation goes too far, as it often does in these situations. Frank commits the ultimate sin, for which Jack cannot hide his glee. Jack's glee is short lived as things between Frank and Vera didn't end as planned. Jack believes he's rectified things just moments before the police arrive. The ending is reminiscent of Hitchcock involving Frank's cellphone.

Director/Co-Writer Christopher Presswell has created cat and mouse game in the style of Alfred Hitchcock. It's a drawing room suspense film built around a handful of high quality actors and a malevolent conceit. The invitees to a small gathering are rocked by an accusation of infidelity, and the ensuing events play out with style. Both the shooting and the soundtrack have a classic clever suspense film feel.Also, Candlestick deliberately references the idea of board games both with the game played in the movie and the title itself, which hearkens back to Clue, the classic murder mystery game. I hope Presswell keeps working in the genre, making intelligent suspense films like this.

I have to admit this is not my favourite genre, I'm a comedy man, but my DAUGHTER, who is all of 12 years old, loves these movies so we watched and had a great time digging into a bowl of popcorn and digging our nails into each other, this movie really delivers on the spooky suspense and takes a familiar genre and plot setting that everyone can relate to and turns it on its head...the filmmaking and particularly the SOUND is fantastic, I don't know how they got such great sound on a low budget but the sound contributes to the creepy suspense and finally drives you to the edge of your seat, without spoiling or giving away anything its highly recommended this film achieves what Hollywood films can only hope to achieve;...real people; real actors ...real suspense.

The plot line and characterizations in this movie would have been far more entertaining on stage in a dinner theatre!Each one of the male actors seemed wooden and uncomfortable in front of the camera. The only female actor, Ilsa Ure, seemed perfectly natural and at comfort before the camera. This conflict between the actors made the movie seem very stagy and at practice.The plot line is full of holes as Jack weaves the setting for the evening to create the perfect murder. Above all the many holes, why send the uncle down the street to call the police? It wasn't logical and was a forced scene just so Jack could have his lengthy soliloquy. There are others such as when Frank said "Jack wouldn't lie" at that Vera would have heard alarm bells.Not a bit suspenseful nor clever.