TIFF 2024 Review: Mr. K – “filled with eccentric characters”

A travelling magician checks into a hotel and the next morning finds himself unable to leave the mysterious establishment.

A wide shot of the stars in the universe tilts down to become the candles situated on nightclub tables occupied by patrons too busy talking to each other to pay attention to the stage performance of an illusionist known as Mr. K. The next morning Mr. K checks into a once-grand hotel that is filled with eccentric characters such as a less than friendly front desk clerk and a troupe of musicians with a penchant of appearing out of nowhere. The identical hallways become an endless maze so rather than being able to depart, Mr. K finds himself embroiled in the lives of the guests and workers in the building which may be more than it actually seems.

As for clever transitions, the opening shot of the universe that fades into the nightclub performance is both eye-catching and narratively effective and the top-down shots of the pipes in the ceiling create a sense that the action is taking place in the belly of the beast.  There is a montage that intercuts the actions of several individuals that climaxes in a way that recalls the famous sex scene that takes place in the kindred-spirited Delicatessen. The framing of the imagery is somewhat off-kilter which makes one wonder how much is the result of a mental breakdown rather than real events unfolding.

Check out all of our TIFF coverageCrispin Glover has made a career of playing oddball characters and Mr. K is another addition to the repertoire that is not over the top but neither the everyman; he does a believable performance of accidentally kicking a foot underneath the bed while the maid in the closet felt more contrived.  Filmmaker Tallulah H. Schwab makes great use of sound to heighten the mental chaos and absurdity such as a door slamming shut like one in a prison or rattling pipes that suggest the structure may well be a living organism.  Technically well-executed but the story feels more style over substance.

The 49th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 5-15, 2023, and for more information visit tiff.net.    

Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada; he can be found at LinkedIn.

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