The cruel intentions of online dating
Isolation can lead to a need for intimacy, even if only temporarily. One way to fulfill that desire in this social media age is through dating apps. While the vulnerability is risky, the apps provide a bit of a shield allowing people to test the waters without even meeting. This protection, however, can also be a covering for those with hidden intentions. Directors Charlie Polinger and Lucy McKendrick explore this idea in their psychodrama thriller, F*ck Me, Richard.
The film opens with a black-and-white romance film playing on the telly. We then move to a beautiful scene of a woman scrolling through a dating app, seeing the potential matches through the reflection in her eye. Our romance-obsessed scroller is Sally (Lucy McKendrick), who is trying to fill her time while she recovers from a broken leg. Alone and bored, she passes on a few profiles before finally landing on Richard (Nathan Wallace).
The juxtaposition of watching the 1945 black-and-white romance Brief Encounter while engaging in modern dating is quite perfect. Sally and Richard talk for days on end, getting to know each other. They converse about everything from places they want to visit to erotic fantasies. As they share details of their lives, they get closer and start to fall head over heels.
It’s time for them to meet face-to-face. And, as you may have guessed, this is where things get a little sketchy. On the day they’re supposed to meet, Richard stands her up. When she talks to him later, he says he can’t make the trip because his mother is in the hospital, which leads him to ask for money to pay for his mom’s “medical bills.” But Sally isn’t the naive, gullible gal Richard thinks she is and appears to be more than well-suited to handle his kind, serving an agenda of her very own.
F*ck Me, Richard is a relatable short, especially for those actively engaged in modern dating. The production design is stellar, and the muted tones set up its own dreary romance vibe within the story. Written by McKendrick, this film is begging to be made into a feature-length story.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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