High-Rise (2015) – Review

Robert Laing (Tom Hiddleston) is successful doctor who, after the death of his sister, moves into a prestigious new apartment building just outside London, designed by Anthony Royal (Jeremy Irons). It is a modern building which is modern and has many extras. It has a pool, a gym and a supermarket everyone is able to use. But the building also houses various people from many walks of life. The top floors is where the upper class lives while the people from lower classes live at the bottom of the building. As becomes clear from the opening that separation eventually has led to chaos as it looks almost apocalyptic.

You could compare High-Rise with a vertical, visually less varying version of Snowpiercer. There is a clash between the classes which slowly turn into a revolt against the privileged upper-class. The concrete building is the silent witness of the collapse of a small society which means that the modern building starts to decay and where garbage is slowly piling up.

 Robert Laing is the central character of the film, but his connection with a single mother (Sienna Miller) and her son Toby and his friendship with Richard Wilder (Luke Evans) also play an important role. The acting is sold, but the story (based on the same book from 1975) feels as chaotic as the events it shows. That sometimes leads to dark comedy and a few memorable moments, but as a whole the movie doesn’t succeed in making you care about the battle between the classes and its message that prosperity doesn’t automatically means freedom.