Premature Arrives in Cinemas
Sonorous Films’ debut feature Premature has arrived in cinemas across Scotland and selected venues in Ireland, following its gala premiere in Glasgow earlier this month.
The contemporary Scottish romantic comedy, written and directed by Kevin Walls, opened on Friday 18 September, with screenings at venues including Odeon, Showcase, Omniplex, Cineworld, Picturehouse and independent cinemas.
Set and filmed in Glasgow, Premature follows Cameron and Eilidh, two flatmates whose drunken one-night stand results in an unexpected pregnancy. When Eilidh decides to continue with the pregnancy, the pair are forced to question the lives they thought they wanted and what they really mean to each other. The film stars James Rottger as Cameron and Elle Watson in her feature-film debut as Eilidh, alongside Gail Watson, Andrew Rodger, Terry Nelson and Zoë Lerman.
Star Elle Watson and director Kevin Walls take part in a post-screening Q&A moderated by filmmaker John McPhail.
Premature has earned warm praise from critics. Writing for The Guardian, Cath Clarke highlighted the "sunny Scottish comedy" for its "screwball-ish energy" and "sweet-natured" heart. Meanwhile, critic Eddie Harrison at Film Authority celebrated Premature as a "an upbeat film and a comedy in the true sense." Jennie Kermode of Eye for Film hailed it as "an astonishing achievement" for its price tag, noting that "for a début feature, [it] finds its own voice with impressive confidence."
Audiences have also embraced the film, with Letterboxd users hailing the film as "a joy to watch from start to finish" and their “favourite film of the year”. Viewers have also singled out the tight script and lead chemistry. Scottish Geek Guy called it "one of the funniest films I've seen in a long time," praising the "sharp" writing and "pitch perfect" comedic timing.
The release represents a significant milestone for a film made independently on a very small budget. Premature was shot over 23 days in Glasgow, with Walls funding the initial production through savings from his freelance work before additional support helped take the film through post-production and into cinemas. Glasgow Caledonian University’s Entrepreneurial Hub provided £5,000 in seed funding towards the costs of the theatrical release.
Premature is in cinemas now.