Sci-Fi London 2026 – Chatlines ★★★★★

Released: TBC (UK)

Director: Lloyd Eyre-Morgan/Neil Ely

Starring: Lloyd Eyre-Morgan, Nico Mirallegro, Siobhan Finneran, Faye McKeever, Laura Aikman

‘Very MSN 2003 mate!’ Once upon a time it was all about ‘What’s your addy!?’, having strange keyboard warriors ask ASL (age/sex/location) and us relishing the prospect of taking a grainy photo for our crushes via a googly-eyed webcam, reminiscent of the Big Brother logo at the peak of its popularity. Now in an era where tedious teams meetings and Tiktok trends are the norm, that craving for connection has only intensified further. What could be viewed as intrusive and oversharing by one generation, is widely interpreted as genuine comfort and influential by another in a time of great need.

Intertwining a playful, poignant love story with a lean time-travel premise. The talented Manchester duo behind Departures Lloyd Eyre-Morgan and Neil Ely dial back in with another absolute gem in Chatlines.

Only in his thirties as they heavily document their journey through social media, Jordan (Eyre-Morgan) has a terminal case of the big C. His brand of irreverent humour in the face of many Karens (no wheelchair races round the hospital!) and impending death, especially when his outspoken sister Jade (Faye McKeever) gets roped into live feeds grounds the film brilliantly. Jordan is refusing to let the C ruin his pursuit of the ‘D’ though, quickly abandoning trivial Google searches for colourful video chats.

After a slew of half-hearted exchanges, he finds someone worthy of speaking to in Danny played by Nico Mirralegro, who soon reveals he’s facing health difficulties of his own. Their quick-witted foul-mouthed rapport draws them closer together, which is quite ironic once they discover they are not even in the same timeline…

Chatlines may utilise tech that thrives on fleeting shortform content, but it’s the eventual full tilt into prolonged no-holds-barred conversations that creates the film’s true staying power, reinforcing that isolation we feel in our darkest hours. Feeling like a ghost already as so-called friends struggle to approach and even abandon you, whilst using comedy and wit as a powerful defence mechanism to fuel those remaining days. In what could be awfully jarring tonal shifts, directors Eyre-Morgan and Ely handle these respective multi-faceted character arcs impeccably, topped off by two committed central performances from Eyre-Morgan and Mirallegro which are full of spirit and Northern charm.

The film’s transitions between this pristine sheen and grainy lo-fi aesthetic rather mirror the plights faced by Jordan and Danny. It takes great pleasure in tearing down this idealistic way of how we present our lives and sometimes how we conceal our difficulties, that are not just rooted in despair. Delivering a warts and all emotional rollercoaster that rings true and authentic regardless of its genre trappings, alongside a more positive spin on the power of social media.

A heart swelling example is the reluctant involvement of Jordan’s mom (A superb Siobhan Finneran), whose on-camera appraisal of ‘her babies’ looking after her, is a beautiful sentiment directed at the resilience of those who properly show up for us and ask for nothing in return. As someone who was also dealt a brutal quick one-two of cancer cases in the family in my late 20’s. Its delivery hits like a speeding car, almost replicating how Danny reaches into the screen to merge with Jordan’s world, offering a hopeful helping hand in how to proceed with life beyond adversity and grief.

A wickedly funny and disarmingly heartfelt slice of queer sci-fi. Chatlines is worth dishing out multiple heart eyes emojis for.