The Rat Catcher

'The Rat Catcher' (2023) is the 3rd installment in the Wed Anderson directed Netflix "series" of Roald Dahl stories. And like the other parts its pretty narrator driven but acting and scenery both being used sparingly to add to the story. But you probably know that by now. However this short film involves more acting and expands it uses of scene environment and lighting. Overall, so far it doesn't seem to be my favorite of the short films released (I haven't seen the fourth film, 'Poison' yet) but I still think it is good. Combining Dahl and Anderson was not something I knew I needed despite loving 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' (2009). This whole series is great. What I love about this film is that the darker tone is brilliantly used and the narration leaves you questioning what will happen next. I do feel that this film seemed too short or at least incomplete (unless you have read the other stories from the book this short film is based on). The scenes are still relaxing but it almost feels like someone else is making a Wes Anderson film. I think its still above average but the not best of the series.

Could have been great if not for awful casting. Don't get me wrong, Rupert Friend was good enough. Ralph Fiennes was great as he always is. But Richard Ayoade has got to be the most annoying, dullest, awful actor I've ever seen. He ruined the whole story from start to finish, it was actually quite difficult to concentrate on the story or enjoy Fiennes acting because of just how awful Richard Ayoade is. It's actually putting me off wasting 40mins watching The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar knowing that he is in it and is probably going to ruin that too. Whoever did the casting on this shouldn't ever work again.

A reporter (Richard Ayoade) and a mechanic (Rupert Friend) watch as Rat Man (Ralph Fiennes) sets off to catch rats. This is a Wes Anderson film adapted from a Roald Dahl story. He has released four such shorts on Netflix. In a way, these combine for a full length movie. Maybe that's the initial intention. The most intriguing aspect is Ralph Fiennes' rat-like appearance. He's doing a lot with a little. Instead of doing mime, I would use plush toy animals for the rat and ferret battle. That scene needs movement inside his shirt. It's all done with ratty fun. There is an aspect of the ending that I didn't get without doing some reading. It's missing the morbidity of the story. The ending is a little too open-ended.