The inaugural Bournemouth International Film Festival is opening with a bang — and with The Hook. This darkly comic whirlwind about a dysfunctional family band is making its world premiere on the South Coast, setting the tone for two days of screenings, talks and celebration of new voices in cinema. Directed by Thomas David Beatty in his feature debut, The Hook tackles themes of ambition, addiction and the fragility of success in the music industry, blending biting humour with raw emotion. With an impressive cast that includes Elijah Rowen (Vikings, Curfew), Jack McEvoy (Vikings, Ripper Street), and Mei Bignall (Penny Dreadful), the film promises to strike a chord with audiences. Ahead of their big night, we caught up with Beatty and Rowen to talk about the journey behind the film, the challenges of balancing comedy and tragedy, and what it means to open a brand new festival in Bournemouth. 1. The Hook is not only having its world premiere here in Bournemouth, but also opening the festival. How does it feel to be the film that sets the tone for the very first BIFF? Elijah: — Bournemouth’s coastal. Since I was a kid I loved the coast; it has always meant change, new tides coming in. I believe in magical signs, cosmic rhymes… The welcome we’ve had here; it’s put a bit of love back in me. Feels good. Tommy: Completely agree with Elijah. Honestly, we couldn’t be happier. It came as a welcome surprise to the team and me. Especially with it being the very first year of the festival, it means even more. 2. The film dives into themes of ambition, addiction, and family dysfunction through the lens of dark comedy. What drew you to this subject matter, and why did you feel now was the right time to tell this story? Tommy: I naturally gravitate toward darker subject matter, even in comedy. The themes are close to me. I think it’s important to be ambitious, but for the right reasons. It feels like the right time because so many creative industries are at a crossroads right now. 3. Much of the film centres on a family band racing to write a hit in just 24 hours. Was that high-stakes, pressure-cooker environment something you always wanted to capture on screen? Tommy: The original concept came from Charlie Freeman, Jack McEvoy, and Elijah Rowen. They approached me with it, and I think the time constraints we faced while shooting the film actually mirrored the central point of a family band trying to write a song in 24 hours. 4. You chose JBJ Recording Studio on Portobello Road as a location, which has an incredible musical history. How important was that real-world setting to the authenticity of the film? Tommy: We couldn’t have made the movie without the studio. The space has such a strong energy as soon as you walk in. It’s crazy to think of the artists who’ve recorded there. We were beyond fortunate to shoot in such a unique location. 5. You have a cast with strong television and film credits – from Vikings to Penny Dreadful to Bridgerton. What did those performers bring that shaped the film in ways you might not have expected? Tommy: They really went for it. It’s a bizarre film in parts, but there was very little questioning of the world itself from the actors. That’s a testament to their professionalism and the trust they placed in me. 6. Thomas, this is your directorial debut after years working across stage and screen. What was the steepest learning curve moving into the director’s chair? Tommy: The sheer number of questions you’re asked. You have to have the answer—and the right answer at that. The clearer you are about what you’re doing, or at least trying to do, the more people are willing to give of themselves. 7. Music is at the heart of The Hook. How did you approach blending the film’s score and soundtrack with the story of fading stardom and creative burnout? Tommy: I was fortunate to know some incredible artists. Stereo Cupid, Sounds Mint, and Stone all added so much contemporary weight to the soundtrack. And of course, Gavin Friday’s “Lord I’m Coming” was a dream—it perfectly captures that cry to something bigger. Everything was pieced together and elevated by Ollie de Wailly, who is a real musical 8. Dark comedy often walks a fine line between humour and tragedy. How did you find the balance, especially when dealing with issues like addiction and mental health? Tommy: These are big issues, of course, but ignoring them—or not poking fun at them—almost makes them bigger. For me I enjoy seeing audiences laugh at the darkest parts and cry at the funniest. I’ll borrow from someone wiser than me—Chaplin: “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.” 9. The Hook explores the cost of chasing success. Do you see parallels with your own journey as filmmakers breaking into an industry that’s notoriously tough to crack? I remember McEvoy saying, after the final edit, “We have an extraordinary journey ahead.”I wanted to believe him. I did. But in this business… it isn’t only what you believe. It’s whether others believe in you. That’s what opens the doors. That’s what makes the journey happen. Tommy: We both see the parallels, and try to steer clear of them. As you say, it’s tough, and it really is a journey—but it’s one we signed up for a long time ago. We’re very lucky to be able to do it. 10. Finally, what do you hope the Bournemouth audience takes away from The Hook, and what’s next for the film after its world premiere? Elijah: I believe in immersion. Acting..living.. It’s the same thing. This film gave me plenty. Left me thinking. I hope the audience feels a touch of that. And that said audience grows. Tommy: Above all, I hope the audience enjoys it. It’s a film made for people to let loose
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