I’m pretty surprised that Avan Jogia had it in him to direct one of the better indie films I’ve seen all year. Shockingly, “Door Mouse” is not based on any particular comic book or graphic novel, but its influences are taken from obvious places like Frank Miller, Sam Spade, Scott Pilgrim, Tank Girl and the like. Jogia is mostly known for being a former Nickelodeon actor in America who then transitioned well in to adult films, but he’s also proven with “Door Mouse” to be a pretty awesome director when all is said and done. “Door Mouse” is a pulpy, neo-noirish, crime thriller with some great references to comic books and a very clever use of animation as a means of helping to add to the overall pulp fiction aesthetic that Jogia seems to be aiming for.
Mouse is a talented comic book artist by day and a burlesque dancer by night that thrives in the shady world of dead end clubs. But when Doe Eyes, one of her fellow performers goes missing in mysterious circumstances, Mouse must follow the trail of corruption and take justice into her own hands. Trailed by a mysterious man in a suit, Mouse digs through back alleys and mansions to find an elaborate conspiracy that might be something completely beyond anything she’s prepared for.
Everything about “Door Mouse” watches like a modern noir narrative and manages to evoke a pretty interesting mystery. The character of Mouse is a fascinating and entertaining heroine who finds herself at the edge of a terrible mystery that, like more hard boiled gumshoes, promises to be the end of her. Hayley Law is the life blood of “Door Mouse” playing the scrappy and tough as nails reluctant detective with aspirations to become a comic book artist. Despite the fact that she presents a general attitude that she only cares about herself she inevitably discovers that she does give a fuck, after all. This puts her in to this dark and elaborate mystery and maze that embraces the noir tropes while also having a good time re-inventing them.
There’s the shady man in the shadows and crime ring and the missing person that snowballs in to missing people, and of course Mouse’s crises of conscience. Law is so damn good here, and she shines along a pretty good cast including Donal Logue, Elizabeth Saunders, and Famke Janssen, respectively. Jogia’s direction really is the highlight of “Door Mouse” as he brings this world to life through various mediums, and some great uses of color. Some scenes look like live action comic book panels, and I enjoyed how Jogia emphasized Mouse’s ability to be sexy without ever relinquishing the character’s dignity, at any time. Although the budget is modest, “Door Mouse” rolls with the punches delivering a truly interesting and complex world filled with grime, perversion, and comic books. I really want to see what more he can do behind the camera, as “Door Mouse” is a banger of a debut.
Available for UK Digital Download, July 10th on various platforms including iTunes, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Sky.