A science fiction cosmic horror that tears apart a dysfunctional family at Christmas Dinner.

• Scare factor: ★★★☆☆
• Science fiction factor: ★★★★★
• Cosmic horror vibes: ★★★★☆
• Dysfunctional family factor: ★★★★★
• Christmas factor: ★★★☆☆
• Grim vibes: ★★★★★

Await Further Instructions is a science fiction horror with cosmic horrors that offers social commentary about information, technology and (social) media, blindly following orders from authority using a dysfunctional family to do so. Merry Christmas. It stars Sam Gittins, Neerja Naik, Abigail Cruttenden, David Bradley, Grant Masters, Holly Weston, Kris Saddler. Directed by Johnny Kevorkian and written by Gavin Williams

Duration 1h 31m.

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Plot

When Nick brings his girlfriend Annji to Christmas Dinner at his parent’s house, she immediately doesn’t feel welcome at all. Gramps is an old grumpy racist man, and Nick’s father Tony is also a bigot and a racist. Nick’s mother Beth is a very docile woman who wants peace and cares for her children. Nick’s not-so-clever-sister Kate is 9 months pregnant and she is just as bad as her gramps. Her husband Tony isn’t that bright as well and follows every person that presents himself as an authoritative figure. Firstly Annji lets all the nasty racist comments slide, but when she’s had enough and stands up for herself they (except for Nick and Beth) get angry with her. 

Nick and Annji plan on leaving first thing in the morning but when they open the door they are locked in by a black hard substance. Every window and door is blocked and there is no cellphone reception or internet connection. Only the tv works and it has a message for them: Await further instructions. Tony and Gramps immediately think it’s a message from the government and that they are sealed in for their own protection. There must have been a terrorist attack and they must do what they are told. Nick and Annji are the only skeptical ones who keep thinking rationally and logically. Especially when the tv gives them instructions that are getting more extreme, like it’s reacting to what is going on in the house. 

Soon things get worse and escalate into death, terror and they even turn on each other, while racism, bigotry, blindly following authority and fascism start to rule their decisions. It’s up to Nick and Annji to get some sense in his family and work together to save themselves. 

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Short Review

At the core it’s a Christmas horror film about a dysfunctional family that falls apart at Christmas Dinner. But the themes play the most important role, which use the family to explain what it means when racism and fascism get the upper hand. 

From the start it’s apparent that Nick’s family except for his mother are racists. They blame everything that’s wrong with the country on immigrants, whether they came here more than hundred years ago or recently. They don’t accept other cultures, beliefs and customs and hold on to their British values. When they get locked in these feelings grow even stronger. It shows that fear feeds their racism. 

An other important theme is that Tony immediately fully accepts that the message on the tv comes from the government. They have smart people who know what to do. If they follow their orders, everything will be fine. Even if that are orders that are very questionable and even dangerous. But Tony blindly follows the instruction without knowing the consequences or if it even comes from the government. His blind faith without any information to back him up, is similar to his religious believe in god. 

Tony goes even further than blindly following orders. He orders his family to do so as well. He takes charge and so does create a fascist household where he expects them to blindly follow his orders because he says so. Not even realizing that he is being controlled and ordered around as well. 

While these are themes that stand on their own. They are connected to technology and media. The film shows how invasive technology and media can be. They can be persuasive and give misinformation without people questioning this information. Technology  and media are taking over and controlling people, even literally at the end. 

The technology and media in this film are so effective in controlling most of them, that they become an authority of their own and even convince them to hurt their own family due to a higher cause, even if they don’t even know what that is. The family surname Milgram even refers to the psychological Milgram experiment. Stanley Milgram researched the willingness of people to obey orders from legitimate authority even if this went against one’s own morals, principles and conscience. And that is exactly what happens in this movie. 

It shows how dangerous it can be to just blindly follow orders, especially when you don’t know who give those orders, but even if you do know. Nick and Annji keep thinking for themselves, questioning if they should follow the order. But in a fascist regime it’s almost impossible not to comply, you’ll just get forced. It’s just as dangerous to blindly believe what appears on your screen, whether it’s the tv, your phone, social media or any media. So Nick and Annji are literally trapped but figuratively as well.

Await Further Instructions is an intriguing film with a grim atmosphere. With a small cast and one location it has a very claustrophobic feel, but mostly due to the people who are locked inside. While it’s set around Christmas which gets also more meaning due what’s happening, it has a bleak tone and dark vibe. Although the threat actually comes from outside their home, the real threat comes from within. With some nasty characters, some clearheaded people who fight against all hope, some gruesome kills and a very grim ending that offers science fiction cosmic horrors, this is not an uplifting film to watch at Christmas, but rather a film that makes you think and be aware of what you think and why.