The family of the titular teenager in Audrey don’t literally pop champagne when she tumbles from the roof and falls into a coma, though they might as well have: this deliciously snarky black comedy makes it brutally clear they prefer it when she’s in a vegetative state, unable to give them grief.
The film mercilessly flogs the “we’re glad she’s in a coma” joke and yet it continues to be funny – partly because of the drollery of Lou Sanz’s script, which is filled with gallows humour; partly because of the pacing, which hits a good rhythm, feeling quick but never rushed; partly because of the cast, who are oddly endearing despite portraying people behaving very badly; and of course because of Natalie Bailey’s direction, which creates a tone that feels both pointy and a bit out of sorts.
