Spider by Nash Edgerton is one of those shorts that will stick in your head for a long, long time and is a firm favourite here at Directors Notes HQ. With this in mind, I always try to keep one eye on what Stuntman/Director Edgerton will do next and the answer is….feature film, The Square.
A stylish, twist-filled film noir, THE SQUARE centers on an adulterous couple whose scheming leads to arson, blackmail and murder. THE SQUARE is the first feature from Australian stuntman-turned-director Nash Edgerton and his brother Joel who co-wrote and stars in the film. Escaping the monotony of a loveless marriage, Raymond Yale becomes entangled in an affair with the beautiful and troubled Carla. Ray’s moral limits are tested when Carla presents him with the proceeds of her controlling husband’s latest crime. This is their chance: Take the money and run… If only it were that simple.
The seed is planted and Ray, fearing he will lose his love, engineers the plan. Hiring the professional arsonist Billy becomes a fatal error, and the plan goes horribly wrong. Alarm bells sound and suspicions are raised but, miraculously, the dust looks to settle.
Then the first blackmail note arrives.
The couple’s nerves are tested as both Carla’s husband and the mystery author threaten to throw open their secret… With the blackmailer’s deadline approaching, they are going to find out just how far they are willing to go for love.