The Party's Just Beginning

Set in Inverness during a bleak midwinter, The Party's Just Beginning follows Liusaidh, a young woman whose life is coming apart after her best friend takes his own life. She numbs her grief with casual sex, junk food and heavy drinking, and as guilt takes hold, her behaviour grows more self-destructive. Christmas, the most demanding time of the year, leaves her searching for someone to confide in and a reason to keep going.

Karen Gillan directed and wrote the film, her first feature behind the camera, and also plays the lead. The cast includes Lee Pace as Dale, Matthew Beard as Alistair, Paul Higgins as Liusaidh's father, Siobhan Redmond as her mother and Jamie Quinn as Ben. It was produced by Mali Elfman, Claire Mundell and R. Andru Davies for Synchronicity Films and Mt. Hollywood Films, and runs 91 minutes.

Released in December 2018, the film drew a mixed response. On IMDb it holds 6.1 out of 10 from around 2,600 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 6.2 out of 10 from a much smaller pool of about 70. A critics' rating of 6.7 out of 10 from 25 reviews places it somewhat above what general audiences gave it.