Windfall: Proof that money doesn't buy happiness, just headaches

Is it worth your time?

If you like those old-school British dramas where everyone is polite until they smell a paycheck, you might actually get a kick out of Windfall. It is not for the folks who need explosions or fast pacing to stay awake. If you hate movies that feel like a stage play stuck inside a box, skip it. ☕

George Carney plays the ironmonger, and he has this weary look that feels entirely authentic. He does not play the "happy winner" for very long, which is a relief. Most movies like this treat a windfall as a comedy of errors, but this one drags the misery out into the open pretty quickly.

There is a specific scene where the neighbors start swarming, and it feels remarkably gross. You can almost smell the cheap tobacco and desperation in the room. It reminded me a bit of the social maneuvering you see in The Woman Next Door, though with far less style and way more bitterness.

The acting? Honestly, it’s a mixed bag. Some of the supporting cast are clearly just there to fill space, but Googie Withers is doing some heavy lifting here. She makes the greed feel personal instead of just a plot device.

I found myself getting annoyed by how quickly the protagonist loses his backbone. Maybe that’s the point? It felt a little frustrating to watch him get pushed around by his own family. It’s not exactly fun, but it feels grounded.

Small observations from the back row:

• The way people hold their teacups tells you more about their social standing than the dialogue does.
• The lighting is incredibly flat, like they forgot to turn on half the lamps in the studio.
• There is a moment near the middle where the film just stops for a conversation that goes nowhere. It’s weirdly charming.
• Charles Hawtrey is in this, and he looks like he’s trying to be anywhere else.

It’s not a masterpiece, and it doesn't try to be. It’s a scrappy little thing that knows exactly what it wants to say about human nature. It’s cynical, sure, but it’s the kind of cynicism that feels earned. Not quite the same weight as something like La muerte civil, but it gets the job done.

Sometimes you just want to watch people make bad decisions for ninety minutes. This provides that in spades. Don't go looking for deep life lessons. Just watch the train wreck happen. 🏚️