Noel Clarke’s Sci Fi Noir Project

When he has a rare day off from writing, directing and producing, busy boy Noel Clarke likes to hook up with likeminded workaholics for a spot of wholesome fun. The latest result of which is short film, ‘Reign Of Death’ a science fiction noir that features Clarke in the lead role of private detective. (watch in it’s entirety below)

The short was written and directed by Matthew Savage, a colleague Clarke met on the set of Dr Who. Savage, who created the concept art for The Dark Knight, Kick Ass and Disney’s Prince of Persia is currently working on the latest feature from the Marvel movie franchise, X Men: First Class.

“The feature takes place within the same universe as the short, but it’s darker and more sinister in tone,” says Savage. “It follows an investigative storyline, with Noel’s gumshoe character taking the lead. The short was an experiment in creating a visually interesting environment within which to tell our story.”

“I optioned Reign Of Death a long time ago, for my company, with a view to getting a feature done,” says Clarke, who notes that the short has been compared favourably with net sensations The Raven, The Gift and Panic Attack, “Not because of the story, but because the effects can be done on a budget, and done well.”

After a promising Metropolis inspired opening, the short features a very hammy Clarke, sporting a disastrous Mickely Spillane accent. Here’s hoping these rough edges are ground off before the feature goes into production and that they can invest the script with something better than the tired clichés utilised in the short. As it stands it’s perhaps too derivative of ‘Sin City’ or an unfilmed Philip K Dick story to be entirely credible. Clarke has likened the future feature as ‘Se7en meets Bladerunner’. A bold claim indeed, let’s see if they can back it up.