Animal rights as a metaphor for human rights in
Raising Martha, David
Spicer's black comedy that throws a lot into the mix and gets varied results. Gerry
(Stephen Boxer) runs a farm that breeds frogs for vivisection; as a result it's a
target for animal rights protesters, and following violent attacks Gerry's all but
barricaded himself in. The latest attack is a personal one: Marc (Tom Bennett) and
Jago (Joel Fry) have dug up the bones of his dead mother, and are holding them
hostage, to be returned if the farm is sold to an animal charity. Gerry's brother
Roger (Julian Bleach) has returned to help with the crisis, but all the brothers do
is argue about whether or not to sell. Meanwhile the increased police presence at
the farm isn't entirely welcome, as Gerry has diversified into growing marijuana
laced with hallucinogenic toad.
