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Meet the film critics at UK Film Review. The people behind some of your favourite film reviews. About UK Film Review Founded in 2012 by Chris Olson, UK Film Review found its niche amongst the indie filmmaking community by providing reviews of independent cinema, as well as promoting crowdfunding and kickstarters for movie projects. In 2015, Olson took on several new UK film critics in order to expand the scope and reach of the film website, covering theatrical releases, DVD & Blu-ray films, short films, animation and documentaries. The site also conducts interviews with filmmakers, providing an even greater insight into the movie industry from the perspective of those making movies. The team of film critics then grew to over 20 contributors mostly in the UK, as well as the U.S. and Europe. UK Film Review Podcast In 2016, UK Film Review launched the UK Film Review Podcast. Guest movie critic Andy Furlong was the main producer of episodes, along with Chris Olson and Alfie Shaw providing numerous episodes along the way. The Podcast achieved a position in the top 10 of the iTunes Film & TV category. The Film Podcast was then reborn in March 2021 with a new team of film critics at the helm and was launched on Spotify - making it easier for fans to listen to the episodes, which are themed around a different film topic or filmmaker. UK Film Festivals In 2017, UK Film Review began partnering with several notable UK film festivals, becoming their official Media Partner. These included the London Independent Film Festival (LIFF), High Peak Indie, and Grimmfest. By 2019, UK Film Review had become the official Media Sponsor for over 10 film festivals in the UK and internationally. UK Film Review Awards In 2018, UK Film Review launched its very first UK Film Review Awards. The categories included: Best Film Best Short Film Best Indie Film Best Documentary Best World Cinema Best Animated Film Best Superhero Film Best LGBTQ Film Best Director Best Performance The winners of the first UK Film Review Awards included Avengers: Infinity War, Roma, indie film Pledge, short film Cotton Wool, female director Stella Velon, and actor Friederike Hammer. UK Film Channel Originally a section of the website where films were embedded to watch online, UK Film Review launched in 2019 a dedicated sister site for UK Film Channel. This VOD platform for short films and indie features combined the love for independent cinema that makes UK Film Review so popular amongst the filmmaking community plus the desire amongst the readership to have a dedicated place to see some of these rare gems. Chris Olson Editor-in-Chief Chris Olson Jack Bottomley Hannah Sayer Darren Tilby Rachel Pullen Andrew Young Brady Clark Hope Madden George Wolf Rachel Willis Matt Weiner Cat McAlpine Brandon Thomas Christie Robb Chris Buick Shrubaboti Bose Alexandra James Sarah Smeaton Brian Penn Charlotte Little Benjamin Schofield Jasmine Holly Bullock Nathanial Eker Will Girling Amber Jackson Ieuan Walker Bruna Foletto Lucas Corey Bulloch Kirsty Asher Taryll Baker Owen Herman Alfie Kaye Albert Sowerby-Davies Chris Rose Aaron Gillingham

The film critics behind some of your favourite movie reviews. Meet the UK Film Review team. UK Film Review Movie Critics The people behind your favourite movie reviews . Finn O'Toole Read More India Gwyn-Williams Read More Holly Baker Read More William Curzon Read More Nina Romain Read More Matt Trapp Read More Rohan Kaushal Read More Jack Salvadori Read More James Learoyd Read More Joyce Cowan Read More Rob Jones Read More Tori Hanes Read More Daniel Baldwin Read More John McKeown Read More Ahmed Abbas Read More Oliver Weir Read More Michael Brennan Read More Isaac Parkinson Read More Joshua Boulton Read More Joe Beck Read More Graham Blair Read More Megan Deacon Read More Sophie Price Read More Alasdair MacRae Read More Kieran Freemantle Read More Amelia Eilertsen Read More William Baines Read More Evie Brudenall Read More Alex Crisp Read More Tallulah Denyer Read More Helen Samuels Read More Julian Gaskell Read More Swati Verma Read More Sam Quarton Read More Isabelle Ryan Read More Patrick Foley Read More William Hemingway Read More Chris Olson Read More Corey Bulloch Read More Chris Rose Read More Alfie Kaye Read More Albert Sowerby-Davies Read More Kirsty Asher Read More Ieuan Walker Read More Bruna Foletto Lucas Read More Amber Jackson Read More Will Girling Read More Nathanial Eker Read More Brady Clark Read More Brandon Thomas Read More Jasmine Holly Bullock Read More Charlotte Little Read More Sarah Smeaton Read More Alexandra James Read More Shrubaboti Bose Read More Christie Robb Read More Cat McAlpine Read More Matt Weiner Read More Rachel Willis Read More George Wolf Read More Hope Madden Read More Hannah Sayer Read More Brian Penn Read More Rachel P Read More Taryll Baker Read More Benjamin Schofield Read More Andrew Young Read More Jack Bottomley Read More Darren Tilby Read More Chris Buick Read More Connor Slatkoff Sharpe Read More Seth Troyer Read More Joshua Calladine Read More Robert Stayte Read More Rochelle McLaren Read More Lucy Clarke Read More Tom Wilmot Read More Jason Knight Read More Lisa Ogunmayin Read More Ian Lunny Read More Lawrence Bennie Read More Tom Jay Read More Alexander Erting-Haynes Read More Alicia Moore Read More Christopher Hart Read More Aaron Gillingham Read More

Finn O'Toole writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Finn O'Toole Finn O'Toole is a writer at UK Film Review. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews

Star rating: 4/5 Writer: Brock Drury Director: Brock Drury Starring: Roman Jacob- Boylen, Chris Wolfe, Eli Jo, Bradley Shane Harrelson, Scott Oakley, Rebecca Clendaniel. The Sim Racer is a sentimental film portraying life's tapestry of high stakes struggles and the power of human connection. Written by Brock Drury, it tells the story of Luke, a small-town American who in his mid-20s and after some tragedy, and a breakup, is struggling to keep a roof above his head. Passionate about cars and racing, Luke is a simulation racer as a hobby- though it is his dream to become an actual race car driver. When he receives a repossession order for his house, the stakes could not be higher, and Luke urgently must find a way to get the money to pay. Script-wise, this is a simple film- with a steady flow, which is very particular and well achieved for a film which veers into the sport film genre. Friendship is a particular theme in The Sim Racer, as Luke mainstay is his friend Jim, an outgoing bar tender whose unwavering confidence in and fearless honesty with Luke is a mainstay of the story. Romance also plays a big part here- of the understated, ‘finally found you’ kind of relationship. I would mention that the tone of this part of the story is slightly teenage-y, there was potential to deepen the story. The cast of The Sim Racer showcase really strong performances, with real connection to the material. In particular, Roman Jacob- Boylen portrays Luke with real depth, illuminating his vulnerabilities as much as his strengths. His character arch is one which the audience roots for- against hardship and even against violence from his racing opponent, Luke remains true to himself while keeping sight of what needs changing. Technically, the film has its weakest points. The sound effects of the racing scenes are not always in synch with the visuals, and they cut jarringly across the broadcaster’s commentary- and at some points the dialogue is slightly too low in volume. Similarly, the editing is jarring at points. This doesn’t affect the strong narrative but can disturb attention. All in all, The Sim Racer is a well- told, genre bending story showcasing the full cacophony of life. Fully recommended.

Film Feature by Jason Knight (amended Apr 2026 to include William Curzon's review) #7 - The Last Laugh (review by William Curzon) ★★★ Directed by: Spencer Anderson Written by: Zachary Coleman Starring: Zachary Coleman, Samuel Lawrence The Last Laugh is a short piece that follows a police officer (Samuel Lawrence) apprehending a clown (Zachary Coleman) with their two opposing ideals at odds. Despite the film's incredibly brisk runtime, it wastes no time building tension and executing its ideas almost immediately. While there isn't much material to sustain a feature-length runtime, the filmmakers clearly intended to execute their distinct vision as depicted on screen. The most impressive aspect of The Last Laugh is its camerawork and fluid editing choices, which are on display. Dan Abrams, serving as both cinematographer and editor for the piece, utilises unique framing choices, including extreme close-ups during moments of severe conflict, and switches to wide framing to give the viewer a sense of the surrounding area. It's an incredibly visceral experience that doesn't let up until its final moments. However, without any prior context to the arising conflict between the two central characters, it's difficult to comprehend what is actually occurring, as the narrative throws the viewer in the deep end, requiring them to decipher what has led to this confrontation. It's a deeply frustrating aspect of the piece due to the lack of character development or thematic purpose, aside from the brief exploration of crime themes. The brief use of music is incredibly impactful and accompanies the severity of the conflict extremely well. Going into the film blind is genuinely a rewarding experience as it's a rather unique piece of indie filmmaking that relies only on a single dispute between two opposing ideologies. While the narrative isn’t fleshed out much, it's extremely refreshing to see an uncompromised vision executed to this level of absurdity. Despite the film having fairly sparse material to work with, the filmmakers do their best to convey their talent with such raw production value. Its absurd nature is commendable, and the narrative does sweep the rug from under the viewer with a shocking twist. #6 - Line of Sight ★★★ Directed by: Spencer Anderson Written by: Jamie B-Brown Starring: Bertie Taylor Smith, Holly Ashman A lonely man is obsessed with a young woman. Francis (Smith) is a socially awkward young man who appears to fancy Erica (Ashman), a friendly girl who works at a cinema. He follows her around and takes pictures of her without her knowing. Finally, he decides to approach her, however, things will take a dramatic turn. This short is kind of a stalker thriller that is seen from the perspective of an unusual individual. Initially, it is not clear whether he is a good or a bad person. He secretly follows and photographs a person, yet his intentions appear to be harmless, as he seems to want to be in a relationship with her. Smith delivers a convincing performance as an isolated individual who has difficulties socialising. His love for photography appears to be a way for him to view and experience the world. Ashman is great in her role as a cheerful cinema worker. The filmmakers make effective use of slow motion and the dramatic music helps create the appropriate atmosphere. This is a dramatic story and one that explores themes of obsession and loneliness. It raises awareness of autism and presents challenges that people with social difficulties have to face. #5 - April ★★★★ Directed by: Spencer Anderson Written by: Jamie B-Brown, Spencer Anderson Starring: Ruby Rae, Oscar King, Cara Kealy In a hostile, post-apocalyptic world, a man escorts his daughter to a place called 'The Vale'. This short science fiction drama introduces the viewer to a world where danger seems to be constant. The story is told from the perspective of a family, whose members are forced to try to survive in that place. These people are Jordan, the father (King), Natalie, the mother (Kealy) and April, the daughter (Rae), who possesses extraordinary abilities. The three of them live in a hidden location in the wilderness and one day, Jordan and April set off to locate a group of people, who will hopefully be able to help April control her powers. Although the screenplay does a decent job in terms of setting up a post-apocalyptic world, it does not explain how it happened, which is not a bad thing, however, it would have helped if there was some form of explanation. The main focus is the relationship between the father and his daughter. The two of them have their differences, however, it becomes obvious that they care deeply for each other. The performances are great, and the three protagonists are convincing in their roles as good-hearted individuals attempting to survive in a harsh world. The film benefits from a beautiful and sentimental score and a special mention goes to Renato Solca for the visual effects. This short is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi that is a story about a journey that is filled with emotion and explores themes of parenting, survival and self-discovery. #4 - Super-Being ★★★★ Directed by: Spencer Anderson Written by: Spencer Anderson, Dale Dandridge, Jamie B-Brown, Moyo Taylor Starring: Zachary Coleman, Juke Hardy, Nate Barker, Issie Caird An individual who has supernatural powers is being pursued by sinister people. This science-fiction thriller explores the life of a person with otherworldly abilities. The nonlinear narrative travels through time between scenes that show the protagonist as a young man and scenes that show him as a child. The audience sees the passing of his mother, his attempts to live a normal life and the efforts he makes in order to deal with the people who are after him. There is drama, shooting, life-threatening situations and the sense of an individual who is lost, who seems to be unable to find peace. Much of the story is accompanied by narration by the main character, as he talks about his life and his words are emotional and sound philosophical. Jermaine Wills and Filipas Proskurinas do an amazing job with the cinematography and the atmospheric score is a big plus. Although this is interesting viewing, it might have benefited if the hero's powers were explained more effectively. Nevertheless, this short is an emotional and tense ride about loss and self-discovery. #3 - Satellites ★★★★ Directed by: Spencer Anderson Written by: Spencer Anderson Starring: Tamzin Murray An astronaut is by herself, on another planet. This beautiful and emotional short focuses on a young woman (Murray), who has found herself on an uncharted planet and attempts to navigate through it on foot. The mise-en-scene in this drama effectively brings the viewer into the science fiction genre. The protagonist wears a spacesuit, there is a spaceship and she is on a distant, unknown planet. Regarding the narrative, there is not much of that and it is the images and narration that keep the audience engaged. The viewer observes the woman as she walks through the planet, wearing her spacesuit. She is the only person in the film and there is a strong feeling of isolation. Her voice-over refers to issues about life and the meaning of existence and listening to her is quite thought-provoking. Ben Hardy worked on the cinematography and editing and does a great job. The decision to utilise the track Surrender It by Delectatio was excellent as it is a wonderful and very calming peace that creates a peaceful atmosphere. This is a story that focuses on one person's philosophical perspective regarding life. On the surface it is a sci-fi, however it is more than that and explores themes of isolation and self-discovery. #2 - Rock-a-Bye ★★★★ Directed by: Spencer Anderson Written by: Jamie Bhagwat-Brown, Spencer Anderson Starring: Yazzmin Newell, Samuel Lawrence A young woman makes a crucial decision on the day she and her partner are about to commit a crime. An intriguing short film that works as a crime thriller and also as a story about self-reflection. As a crime film, it has a plot that revolves around the idea of a couple being outlaws. According to director Anderson, this short was made with Western-era influences that involve films such as Blood Simple and Badlands and that is evident considering the storyline and atmosphere. Plus, part of the filming was done at the Burnout BBQ Diner in Summertown, Oxford, giving the film a sort of Americanised look. What is going on is not clear from the beginning, making the viewer to put the pieces together as the story unfolds and what is discovered is that the couple are about to do something very vile. As a film about self-reflection, that theme is explored through Carla (a great performance by Newell), who makes a vital last-minute discovery and makes a crucial decision. Newell is terrific in her role; however Lawrence is arguably the one who steals the show as Clay, Carla's partner, an aggressive and controlling man. With his sixth short, Anderson creates an expertly directed film that contains a great deal of suspense and with terrific performances by the two leads, a dramatic and tense score by Reg Length and beautiful cinematography by Jermaine Wills, this is an achievement that deserves recognition. #1 - Fallen ★★★★★ Directed by: Spencer Anderson Written by: Spencer Anderson Starring: Zachary Coleman, Michael Watts This short drama was inspired by the reminiscences of Gilbert Bradley, who was a British soldier who exchanged letters with his male partner while he was fighting World War II. Through a nonlinear narrative, this emotional war film tells the story of a forbidden romantic relationship and how these two people tried to keep in touch during the war. Approximately the first half consists of the reading of a letter that was written by one man and addressed to the other and the second half is the opposite. Both contents of the letters are told through a voice-over that comes from the one who wrote it. Their words are passionate and full of emotion, clearly indicating the love that they feel for each other. The narration is accompanied by many brief scenes that depict the lives of the two partners, including one man in a library, reading a letter, scenes of combat, a bonfire and the two men together. The scenes and the voice-over make it all a rather moving watch. With its narrative structure, the film almost feels like a ten-minute-long trailer, which is not a negative element but a rather interesting storytelling technique. Jermaine Will provides wonderful cinematography and the emotional score goes very well with the scenes and voice-over. The mise-en-scene also deserves a lot of praise as it effectively creates a Second World War atmosphere. This is an emotional ride that is very heavy on emotions and explores a romance that is being torn apart by war. It is a beautiful story about love, separation and war and it deserves recognition. #JasonKnight

Star rating: 3/5 Writer: Joyce Terveden, Isis Calje and Natasha Schaafsma Director: Milan Swager Starring: Joyce Terveden, Isis Calje and Natasha Schaafsma Helemaal et Heinde, which is a co-written work by Joyce Terveden, Isis Calje and Natasha Schaafsma, is a short action film packed with quirkiness and some violence. In what seems like an apocaliptic setting, three women meet in a story of paranoia, violence and love, told humourously through really skilled performances and in a location that really sparks curiosity. In particular, the actress who plays Sky portrays a breakdown with great accuracy and depth. Directed by Milan Swager, this is a story where stranger's kindness is not repaid, and as such poses for us a question many throughout history have faced: would we help or trust someone who is politically opposed if they suddenly become simply a fellow human in need of help? There are various interesting points in this film, apart from an all-women fight and the exploration of fear and love between women, not least some of the technical aspects, with the fight being really well coreographed. On the other hand, the continuity editing, while suitable, feels like it doesn't fully do the story justice. The use of sound in this film stands out: while some of the sound effects are really overdone (such as the drawing of knives), the score is brilliant. Meanwhile, the cinematography is strong, in particular the shot composition- particularly for the scenes in the corridor. Where this film is also strong is in the dialogue, which is well written and flows well- fitting for a film of its genre. Helemaal et Heinde is a solid piece of action film that even those us who don't count the genre amongst our favourites would be entertained by.