Paula (2017)

2017 | UK / Ireland | Conor McPherson | ★★★★

Irish playwright Conor McPherson's alluringly abstruse and nonsensical Paula is a joltingly original three-part thriller, packed with discomfortingly ridiculous turns of plot, impenetrably enigmatic characters, and memorably dexterous performances.

---

"Paula and James are worlds apart. They might both live in Dublin but Paula is a respected teacher, whereas James scratches out a living doing maintenance jobs and stealing from his mother. When Paula hears strange scuttling noises in her basement, she hires James to exterminate the rats and silence her fears. The two share a frenzied and fateful one-night stand. Paula is quickly pulled into a vicious game of cat and mouse. James seems to lurk on every street corner and behind every shadow – along with looming ghosts and silenced children, buried shame and harrowing secrets. As James’ grip strengthens, Paula’s ‘normal’ life shatters. She is forced to dig deep, and access the darkest depths of her soul, in a battle to survive." 2entertain