Andy Lambert's 'Mute' quartet.

29 April 2025

For those new to Andy Lambert's long-running series of short films, the rules of 'Mute' are simple: no dialogue; no camera moves; and only one shot. With us so far? Good.

For those new to Andy Lambert's long-running series of short films, the rules of 'Mute' are simple: no dialogue; no camera moves; and only one shot. With us so far? Good, because Lambert of Dark Energy has released four new skits, the generous so-and-so. They are 'Clinical Intervention', 'An Emotional State', 'Stop', and 'The Prisoner', and it's important not to write too much about them.

Take 'Clinical Intervention', where a heavily pregnant woman (Sinead MacInnes) nips out for a cigarette with her IV pole. We've all seen and smelt smokers outside the hospital doors, but this takes the nicotine-stained biscuit. When two members of hospital staff (Bobby Dosanjh and Akie Kotabe) walk by, it blurs the line between fag and fiction.

Next we have 'An Emotional State' starring Stewart Alexander as the President of the United States and Hollie Harrington as his secretary. This commander-in-chief loves to paint in the Oval Office—not only does it let him blow off steam, it also helps on a practical level. We would say Donald Trump could learn from this, but 2'26" is a long time for him to concentrate.

We then join an obedient cyclist (Peter Lofsgard) at a set of temporary traffic lights in 'Stop'. Not every cyclist is as patient as him, and it's hard not to shout "Just go!" at the screen. Another road user (Clemente Lohr) soon enters the cyclist's orbit, and this is where the audience sympathy goes one way or another. Only when the light turns green, of course.

Last but not least is 'The Prisoner'—not a reboot of the 1967 TV series or an apology for the 2009 remake, but the story of a man (Kevin Millington) who watches his fellow inmates escape en masse. Another prisoner (Kashif O'Connor) does him a solid and opens his cell door, but is he ready for life on the outside? You know the drill by now—press play to find out!