The Rat Catcher (2023) Short Movie Review

 

The Rat Catcher | 2023 | 17m
Genre: Comedy/Short | Country: US
Director: Wes Anderson | Writers: Roald Dahl, Wes Anderson
Cast: Richard Ayoade, Ralph Fiennes, Rupert Friend
IMDB: 6.5
My Rate: 8/10

A rat catcher comes to catch a disturbing rat, but the rat seems to be smarter and doesn’t get caught in the traps that have been set. However, the rat catcher still tries to maintain his good reputation.

Warning:

Contains coarse language

 

Synopsis:

Claude, the workshop owner, calls the Rat Man to solve the rat problem around his workshop. Accompanied by the Editor who becomes the narrator of the events taking place. Together they try to find the whereabouts of the rat and plan the steps that need to be taken to hunt the rats.

The Rat Man explains the things he knows about rats and makes Claude and the Editor amazed. After explaining various things, the Rat Man then tries to provide a trap in the form of a very strong rat poison. However, it turns out the rats do not touch the poison at all.

The Rat Man feels his reputation is slightly tarnished due to his failure. He then tries to perform various attractions in front of Claude and the Editor to make sure that the mistake is not his. However, instead of being impressed, Claude and the Editor feel that the Rat Man is a strange person.

Why did the rat not get caught in the trap?

 

Review:

The Rat Catcher is the third film in the Roald Dahl Anthology after The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and The Swan. The presentation style is still similar to the other two films, namely with narration and some visuals. However, in this film, the audience is more made to imagine the scenes, such as when the rat catcher shows the rat in his pocket.

The story idea is actually quite simple, which is about a rat catcher who has to complete his task of catching a rat. However, the story is quite unique and hard to predict. The locations, characters, properties, and transitions used are not too many or are limited. Nevertheless, the story presented is quite solid.

The story begins with the introduction of the main character using narration delivered by one of the characters. The descriptions conveyed about the character are truly clear and visualized very well and appropriately. The background of the problem is also explained very well, which becomes an important foundation leading to the conflict that will be presented.

Compared to the other films, the conflict presented is not too intense. The biggest conflict is when the rat catcher’s assumption is wrong, where the rat does not eat the poison that is given. At that point, the rat catcher begins to do various things to maintain his reputation as a competent rat catcher by performing various strange shows.

The resolution is carried out quite well, where the audience seems to be brought into a twist whose clues have actually been shown from the beginning. However, maybe not many viewers realize this. Thus, it makes the audience feel like rewinding each scene that has been watched.

The acting of the cast is quite good. Added with makeup that matches the narration, especially the rat catcher. The use of CGI for the appearance of the rat is also very interesting. The transitions and color composition add drama to the scenes. Along with the selection of appropriate sound effects and music.

Overall, this film is interesting to watch with a unique story.

 

Memorable scene:

The rat catcher explains how he catches rats, which is by thinking like a rat. This scene shows a method we can apply in our daily lives. Maybe it’s like a kind of manipulation, but if we want someone to do something, then we must know them and try to think like them.

 

Memorable dialogue:

"You gotta know rats on this job"

 

Ending:

Twist Ending

 
Recommendation:

Must Watch

(Aluna)