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HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Evil Does Not Exist Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: George Wolf | Posted on: May 15, 2024 Directed by: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi Written by: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi Starring: Hitoshi Omika, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi Two years ago, the magnificent Drive My Car became the first Japanese film to garner a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and earned Ryûsuke Hamaguchi well-earned noms for writing and directing. Now, writer/director Hamaguchi rewards his wider audience with Evil Does Not Exist (Aku wa sonzai shinai) , another thoughtful, gracefully intellectual tale that finds him in an even more enigmatic mood. Takumi and his young daughter live in Mizubiki, a Japanese village near Tokyo. Father teaches daughter about the wonders of nature, and about her place in the village’s careful balance of give and take. That balance is threatened when a big firm plans to build a ”glamping” (glamorous camping) site very close to Takumi’s own house. Two P.R. reps come to convince the villagers that the company will also be careful, but these townsfolk know manure when they smell it. The reps try to curry favor by offering Takumi a job as caretaker of the glamping site, but the more time they spend with this pillar of the simple life, the more they start to see wisdom in his ways. Hamaguchi delivers some salient points on ecology while showcasing his skill with probing character purpose, motivation and the different ways they interact. At a town meeting, an older villager gently reminds the P.R. reps about the responsibilities that come with “living upstream,” and the speech becomes an eloquent metaphor that the film begins dissecting with sometimes abstract detail. And though the one hundred six-minute running time might seem rushed for a filmmaker that has favored three, four, and even five-hour films, Hamaguchi’s storytelling here is more patient than ever. Yoshio Kitagawa’s exquisite cinematography often showcases nature’s beauty in wordless wonder, always buoyed by an Eiko Ishibashi score that is evocative and moving. What Evil Does Not Exist doesn’t do is provide any easy answers for the dramatic choices Takumi makes once his daughter goes missing. The film ends as it begins, staring into the natural world and asking us to ponder how we best fit in. About the Film Critic George Wolf Theatrical Release, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

FILM REVIEWS UK UK Film Review is a film reviews website based in London, UK. We promote films and movie trailers from around the world and support indie films that would usually find it hard to find the spotlight against the bigger films of cinema. From the latest blockbusters, to small indie cinema, we tackle as many films as we can. Reviewing them from all aspects, not just how many digital landscapes they blow up using CGI. We also review short films in the UK and internationally, helping filmmakers to promote their movies and raise their profile. If you would like to have a short or indie film reviewed by us, please submit all info using the button below. Take a look around, enjoy the spoils of filmmaking, film festivals and artistic expression. Our merry band of film critics are constantly hard at work, writing film reviews, or watching movie trailers for some of the most exciting movies coming out in UK cinemas. So to keep their morale up, please be nice...or at least funny if you choose to troll. Because, in the immortal words of Rick Moranis in the movie Spaceballs, "Keep firing A**holes!". By the way, on this film reviews website, you may see several references to Spaceballs. If you have not seen that classic Mel Brooks film, you MUST seek it out and tell us what you think. SUBMIT YOUR FILM Are You a Film Podcast Fan? Film critics Chris Olson and Brian Penn host a monthly podcast for all types of film fans! ​ Whether you like the latest blockbuster releases, or streaming is your thing - we have you covered. ​ We even review short and independent films on the podcast. ​ Our final review is usually for a "Nostalgia" pick - something from the past worth revisiting. Previous picks for this have included Jaws, The Fly, and Good Will Hunting. ​ Search UK Film Review Podcast wherever you like to listen and join our global community of film lovers. Film Reviews from UK film critics LATEST REVIEWS Evil Does Not Exist Original Skin The Second Act Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever Voyager Depression Is A Beast Gunslingers Adam the First Pandæmonium Red Lantern Tomorrow Maiken Load More

Short Film Reviews Welcome to the UK Film Review page for short film reviews . Here you will find some of the best and brightest sparks in a sea of cinema. Filmmakers from across the globe submit their short films to us to be reviewed, and our Contributors lovingly dissect them. If you would like one of our team to write a film review of your short film, please use the form below or visit our Submit Your Film page Our short film reviews are written by passionate film critics across the UK and aim to highlight and promote terrific filmmaking when we find it. We are always honest with our reviews, so if you are looking to submit your short film for review, please do so knowing that we will not alter what we have said because you don't like it. There is a wealth of amazing talent in the short film industry, and we hope by writing film reviews about this underexposed creativity we can get your movies to a new audience...but we need your help. Please join in the chatter on our social media channels so that we can grow our community and share the joy. Use the buttons in the footer to Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, and Subscribe to us on YouTube #supportindiefilm. Get Your Short Film Reviewed ↓ alexjames96 Apr 19 2 min A Happy Ending Short Film Review alexjames96 Apr 19 2 min Shear Disturbance Short Film Review alexjames96 Apr 19 2 min Watch What I Do Short Film Review alexjames96 Mar 17 2 min After Hours Short Movie Review alexjames96 Mar 17 2 min Cinerama (Music Video) Short Film Review Chris Olson Mar 1 3 min Film Podcast: George Clooney Rowing Biopic Scoops Film of the Month Chris Olson Feb 22 3 min Film Podcast: Anthony Hopkins drama crowned "Film of the Month" alexjames96 Feb 17 2 min Mannequin Short Film Review alexjames96 Feb 17 2 min The Separation Short Film Review alexjames96 Feb 17 2 min Bare Foot Short Film Review William Hemingway Jan 18 8 min Filmmaker Interview with Jiwon Lee alexjames96 Dec 19, 2023 2 min Dominion Short Film Review alexjames96 Dec 19, 2023 2 min Homecoming (Music Video) Short Film Review alexjames96 Dec 19, 2023 2 min Sunset Drive Short Film Review Chris Olson Nov 28, 2023 5 min Filmmaker Interview with Alexander Ratter alexjames96 Nov 16, 2023 2 min Purely Cosmetic Short Film Review alexjames96 Nov 16, 2023 2 min What Remains Short Film Review alexjames96 Nov 16, 2023 2 min Sheep F-cked In the Head Short Film Review Chris Olson Nov 13, 2023 3 min Filmmaker Interview with Aimie Willemse alexjames96 Oct 13, 2023 2 min Uncharted Expedition Short Film Review More Film Reviews Original Skin Joe Beck Voyager Jason Knight Depression Is A Beast William Hemingway Gunslingers Patrick Foley Red Lantern Chris Buick Tomorrow Joe Beck Maiken William Hemingway Denmark Doesn't Exist Patrick Foley The Call William Hemingway bad lunch. Joe Beck Kenny Patrick Foley Cast Away Joe Beck The Protégé Chris Buick On My Level William Hemingway Changing Tides Patrick Foley Jane Austen's Period Drama Joe Beck Company Chris Buick Boy.With.Angel.Wings William Hemingway Wait Till It Drops Joe Beck Fugue Jason Knight Circus Swati Verma It Could Be You Jason Knight Bestias Patrick Foley OBA OMO (The King Child) James Learoyd IRAN: A People Forever in Revolution James Learoyd Load More Reviews What is a short film review? A short film review is often written by a movie critic and it's their opinion on a film that is less than sixty minutes long. Short film reviews still explore every aspect of a movie. How do I write a short film review? Writing a short film review needs to cover multiple aspects of the movie. Including the script, the characters, performances, cinematography, score & sound design, editing and so on. How long should a film review be? A film review should be as long as the house style. Some publications provide lengthier reviews than others. A general minimum word count would be 300. How much money do film critics make? Film critic salaries depend massively on their publication. Many film critics are freelancers, meaning they get paid per review and sometimes this is based on word count. Making money through film reviews can be challenging.

Music Video Reviews One of the most exciting sub-genres our critics review is music videos. They are often incredible pieces of storytelling, either in their own right or aligned with the song playing over them. On this page you will find a great selection of music video reviews from the team of critics at UK Film Review. ​ If you are a filmmaker or artist who would like us to review your music video, submit your film here . ​ When it comes to reviewing a music video, the process differs slightly from perhaps a narrative short film or documentary. The music has to be explored far more intimately than if it were a soundtrack because that's where the story originates from rather than being added further down the line. Music videos do conform to genres but these are often musical genres rather than film categories, for example pop, folk, rock, rap etc. So this will also influence the music video review our critics write because the target audience is going to be considered. ​ Music videos may take a variety of forms or even combine different aspects to create a different effect on the viewer. For example, it is common for a music video to contain a small narrative, as well as live performance footage. Top filmmakers making music videos will be able to immerse you into the song and story without leaving you feeling like you have just watched a promo piece. ​ Choreography is also a common trait in music videos, with dance sequences and flash mobs recurring - often in pop music videos. Editors of music videos will have their work cut out to ensure the choreography looks tight and engaging without it feeling staged or lifeless. ​ Hopefully the array of music video reviews you see below will include some gems for you to peruse. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the article, as we often include the actual music video so you can watch it for yourself. Rooftop Screamers Joe Beck Hot Chip Eleanor Swati Verma A New Kind of Life Jason Knight Vaarwell - Quarter Life Crisis - EP Campaign Patrick Foley KYTLY - "Neverending" Patrick Foley Rebel Rob Jones Millais Flower Honey - Sugarless Rob Jones Som.1-Ultimatum Jason Knight My Brain Does Not Compute William Hemingway alexjames96 Mar 17 2 min Cinerama (Music Video) Short Film Review alexjames96 Dec 19, 2023 2 min Homecoming (Music Video) Short Film Review alexjames96 Nov 16, 2023 2 min Sheep F-cked In the Head Short Film Review Theo Aug 1, 2022 2 min Service for The King short film review Chris Olson Sep 28, 2021 2 min Stroke Code Music Video Review Alicia Moore Sep 22, 2021 3 min COVID 19 Music Video Review More Film Reviews

Film Reviews Here at UK Film Review we like to tackle all kinds film reviews. Our writers come from all walks of life, and feel passionate about critiquing the movies they watch. From the latest Theatrical Releases to Short Films, Indie Films, Documentaries and even Animation, the contributors of UK Film Review are as eager to please as Dev Patel in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011). If you are a filmmaker, or are working in film PR and want to promote one of your clients, please get in touch using the Submit Your Film button under the drop-down menu for Home. Take a look at our list of film reviews below from some of the hottest releases in UK cinemas. Simply click the image of the review you would like, or the title of the movie. Or use the search button to find the movie you are looking for. We have given any feature length film a star rating (out of 5) in order to help viewers sort the Citizen Kanes from the Waterworlds, the Inceptions from the Transformers. Michael Bay will be given a fair film review from our writers, but that probably will not go in his favour. Speaking of Filmmakers, head over to our Filmmaker Features page for awesome articles about some of the best filmmaking geniuses who ever lived. Movie Trailers are also available, either underneath the film reviews, or on the Movie Trailers page. And lastly, if you like your film reviews verbalised. Simply because reading is boring and listening is marvellous, then make sure you Subscribe to the UK Film Review Podcast. Our critics offer up some banterous opinions on the best and worst movies across all genres. Head over to the Podcast page, or click this link to go straight to iTunes. If you would like to read or view any of the following, simply use the navigation. Alternatively, you can click on one of the images to read the film reviews here, or simply have a ganders at the lovely movie artwork on display. Remember to listen to film reviews on our regular film podcast. GET REVIEWED average rating is 4 out of 5 Evil Does Not Exist Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Gunslingers Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Adam the First Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Denmark Doesn't Exist Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 The Last Stop in Yuma County Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something has Passed Read Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Kenny Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 The Fall Guy Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 On My Level Read Review Chris Olson Mar 8 2 min Film Podcast - Dune: Part 2 Chris Olson Mar 1 3 min Film Podcast: George Clooney Rowing Biopic Scoops Film of the Month Jan 20, 2023 3 min TAR FILM REVIEW Taryll Baker Oct 13, 2022 2 min Empire of Light - Film Review Oct 11, 2022 3 min Bones and All LFF Review Oct 7, 2022 3 min White Noise (2022) LFF Review Sep 20, 2022 2 min Sanctuary TIFF Review UK Film Review Sep 13, 2022 5 min FrightFest 2022 Highlights May 25, 2022 3 min Top Gun: Maverick Film Review Apr 23, 2022 3 min The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Film Review Spoilers in our film reviews As with all digital forms of expression sometimes people may find something that upsets them online. Spoilers can often be one of these things! Whilst we do our best to ensure that major plot points, twists, character deaths and celebrity cameos are not found in our reviews, it can sometimes be difficult to judge what each and every film lover on the planet would to be a spoiler. If you feel that one of our film reviews contains one too many details then please do let us (politely) know using our social media platforms. We may then take serious action, such as expelling the critic responsible from this and every other movie publication past and present, declaring war against the studio for leading our writer into temptation, or we may do nothing at all. To be honest, it is most likely going to be the latter unless some serious rules have been broken. You may also see some movie trailers in our reviews that could also contain potential spoilers. In which case anyone who is hoping to avoid these should probably not click the play button on them. Or click the play button, turn the sound down on your device, then leave the room for a least 28 minutes whilst the trailer finishes and leaves your life naturally. You may be wondering what you could do with all 28 of those minutes! Why not read some more film reviews on another device? Or make a short film of your cat playing with a piece of string? Spend it wisely guys and gals.

Latest Film Reviews average rating is 4 out of 5 Evil Does Not Exist Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Original Skin Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 The Second Act Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Voyager Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Depression Is A Beast Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Gunslingers Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Adam the First Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Pandæmonium Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Red Lantern Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Tomorrow Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Maiken Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Denmark Doesn't Exist Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 The Last Stop in Yuma County Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something has Passed Read Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 The Thin Black Line Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Tomorrow Never Comes Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Imperfect Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 The Call Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 bad lunch. 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HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Original Skin Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: May 15, 2024 Directed by: Mdhamiri A Nkemi Written by: Eve Hedderwick Turner Starring: Sorcha Groundsell, Olive Gray To touch another’s skin is something so simple, yet it can be so sensual. Of course, not always, sometimes it is simply the shaking of hands after a football match, or simply a doctor examining you. But sometimes, maybe even often, when two people touch skin on skin, it is a sensual, tantalising experience. Be it a simple brush of two hands, or a couple holding hands in the street or caressing one another in bed, there is something sensual about feeling another’s skin. ‘Original skin’ understands this acutely, and depicts the importance of skin and the sense of touch in a fittingly sensual manner. ‘Ordinary Skin’ focuses on an unnamed young woman, played by Sorcha Groundsell, who has issues with her skin. There’s a sensitive red patch on her arm, which she finds herself constantly picking at. This is an alternate reality, where through having sex you switch bodies with the other person. Early assumptions are that this causes discomfort in the skin hence the sensitive patch, though the opposite could be true, and it may be due to the young woman’s frigidity that suffers such an issue. The young woman lives in a convent type place, and is sent away one night by the people, whom she calls sisters. As they drive through London she is entranced by the blindingly neon lights and general hubbub, which make London, like any other major city so enchanting at night time. Through a surprising, and not altogether convincing, turn of events, the young woman finds herself in sequin cardigan and at a nightclub, where she is enraptured by another alluring young woman, played by Olive Gray, and ends up sleeping with her, and, in the process, swapping bodies. Director Mdhamiri A Nkemi perfectly understands the sensuality and sexuality of the film - the concept of sex being a transferal of bodies in itself is both these things. He directs the film, and in particular the sex scene between the two young women as something raw, passionate, and tender. The blurriness of it all enhances the sensuality, whilst the impeccable use of light in these scenes creates a rawness and vulnerability about them. This is pre-empted by the scenes of the young woman travelling through London, which is shot with similar sensuality, and is just as affecting. Although the script, written by Eve Hedderwick Turner, at times loses itself, with a couple of unconvincing plot points, the dialogue is nonetheless well written, and ultimately the concept itself is ingenious and bold. ‘Ordinary skin’ is a deeply sensual film, which is tantalisingly sexual and transgressive, and well worth experiencing. About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Second Act Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jack Salvadori | Posted on: May 15, 2024 Directed by: Quentin Dupieux Written by: Quentin Dupieux Starring: Léa Seydoux, Louis Garrel, Vincent Lindon, Raphaël Quenard Cannes-cel culture. An unsettling grey and rainy weather anticipated the lukewarm reception of the 76th edition of the most prestigious festival in the world. At the news of Quentin Dupieux opening this year’s kermess with his latest flick, The Second Act, expectations were certainly high- but not quite met. Since the imposing red “N” of Neflix doomed over the Lumiere Theatre, there was immediately a slight sense of discomfort. Opening with Netflix sounds like a questionably hypocritical decision, after the austere position of the festival against the streaming platform from its previous editions. But this hypocrisy is perhaps fitting, soon becoming the main motif of the entire film. Starring Raphaël Quenard, Léa Seydoux, Vincent Lindon, and Louis Garrel, the movie presents four actors attempting to shoot a movie juggling with the new standards set by political correctness, what is appropriate to say and how, and the fear/threat of being cancelled. Yet, clashes unfold and tensions arise, with the players attacking each other demanding professionalism and good behaviour on set, while shamelessly showcasing sexual misconduct and offensive remarks when not on camera. But there are no cameras. Nor intrusive lights. And most importantly, no “cuts”. The picture, apparently, is directorless. This allows the actors to switch between their characters and their thespians alter-egos, interrupting and returning to their fictitious scenes in a smooth, metacinematic tango. Metacinema is the most familiar ground for Dupieux, who often likes to question what is real and what is fictional, especially in his early works. The formula is always the same: surreal situations while capturing hyperrealist nuances and laidback interactions, in this case of a film set: “you don’t know all that goes on when you watch TV at home!”, exclaims one of the extras. But The Second Act is ultimately a self-reflection about the French film industry, with its bureaucratic productions, random fascination of new technological trends, and the unmotivated awe of American cinema while being dismissive about itself. However, the contemporary critique is quite shallow, unoriginal, and too on the nose, and the film scored very few giggles compared to the French director’s signature outbursts of laughter among the audience. Perhaps Dupieux’s surrealist freedom was curbed by the bitter societal comment, and he works best when indeed, he has nothing to say. About the Film Critic Jack Salvadori Film Festival < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: May 15, 2024 Directed by: Ole Bornedal Written by: Ole Bornedal Starring: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Fanny Leander Bornedal Thirty years ago, Danish writer/director Ole Bornedal made a taut thriller about the night watchman in a medical facility who stumbles into a lurid crime spree. Three years later, he made Nightwatch again, this time in English. And now, fully three decades hence, he hits those of us who remember either of the earlier films with a sequel: Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever. Back in the day, Martin (Nikolaj Coser-Waldau) took a job as overnight security to help pay for law school. Today, his daughter Emma (Fanny Leander Bornedal) does the same. Yes, she needs the money—since her mom’s suicide, her dad Martin is mainly drunk or pilled up and hasn’t worked in ages. But Emma has added reason. She just learned that her dad was involved in the famous serial killer case that ended in the building morgue. Emma now blames the trauma for her mother’s suicide and her dad’s inability to cope, but her digging around has opened up a whole mess of new problems. Or old ones. The filmmaker moves ably from the existential crises that fueled his original film to the ripple effects of trauma. He treads enough of the same beats to create an eerie echo of the past, but veers in mainly sensible new directions. We do get to spend time with the majority of the original cast, though most of them appear for a scene, maybe two. Coser-Waldau anchors the sequel. Far from the wide-eyed youth who was so malleable thirty years ago, Martin is now barely functioning but earnestly interested in doing right by his daughter. The filmmaker’s own daughter cuts a compelling contrast as Martin’s daughter. Determined and a little raw, Emma makes some rash decisions, but they never feel like dumb choices in service of a thriller’s scares. They feel like passion and impatience. The mystery itself begins strong with an increasingly interesting perpetrator (Casper Kjær Jensen, tender and terrifying), but eventually devolves into something too pulpy and familiar. Still, Ole Bornedal has not lost his touch with the claustrophobic terror of being trapped inside a medical facility. If you loved the original (or ‘97s solid remake with Ewan McGregor), Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever delivers bittersweet closure. But it’s an entertaining if not fantastic watch for thriller fans new to the franchise as well. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Digital / DVD Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Voyager Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: May 15, 2024 Directed by: Pablo Pagan Written by: Adria Cerezo, Pablo Pagan Starring: Ana Barja, Neli Llado, Oscar Domenech A young woman takes some mysterious pills, leading to sinister and otherworldly events. A dark story with a nonlinear narrative that involves the afterlife. The story takes place in Barcelona and revolves around Camila (Barja), a youth who makes a living by working as a party truck driver and takes care of Carmen (Llado), an ill and elderly loved one who is in a motel room. One night, while cleaning the lorry after a party, she finds a small container and inside are some strange pills. Every time she takes one, she appears to be transported to a supernatural existence where she is maybe a ghost. Meanwhile, her dead body is found by police, who try to piece together the events that led to her death. As the narrative is nonlinear, the screenplay alternates between the authorities, particularly detectives and forensics investigating Camila's bizarre death and Camila (or is it her spirit?) as she goes through magical experiences each time she takes a pill. Camila seems to be an outsider. A lonely and sad person who is isolated from the world and does not appear to be enjoying life. The pills seem to be providing her with a way to blend in the crowd, even as an invisible version of herself as, for instance, after taking a pill she finds herself inside the lorry, in the middle of a dancing crowd who are unaware of her presence. Combining this with the police investigation, the film could be categorised as a supernatural neo-noir thriller and a character study in Camila, a quiet person whose life changes after she finds some pills. The atmosphere is an aspect that stands out. The entire story takes place during night-time, providing a dark and surreal environment. Adria Acker's tense score and the creative lighting techniques, along with Marti Cirera's cinematography add significantly in creating a sinister tone. Also, the frequent close-ups of a dead body contribute. This short is a dark ride. A journey into a nightmarish world involving death. However, the film is also about isolation and the desire to find a way to connect with people and Barja's dramatic performance is a big tool in building an emotional experience. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Depression Is A Beast Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: May 14, 2024 Directed by: Courtney Dixon Written by: Courtney Dixon Starring: Jenna Kanell For those of you who like your films scary, it’s likely that you’ll need no introduction to Jenna Kanell. Breaking through as Tara Heyes in Terrifier (2016), then cementing her place in the Horror annals as Kim Hansen in The Bye Bye Man (2017), Jenna has also collected credits from a whole bunch of other work along the way, including her turn as Carol in recent Nic Cage vampire thriller, Renfield (2023). A quick scout of her IMDb page will tell you that Jenna Kanell is one of the hardest working young talents in the industry today, not just in front of the camera as actress and full-on stuntwoman, but also behind the scenes as writer, director and producer on several different projects. Picking through her back catalogue though, one thing jumps out at you, one genre that comes up again and again and which dominates the film choices that Jenna has made throughout her career – the Horror. Sadly, Jenna has felt that she has carried her own horror around with her for most of her life – the spectre of depression – and it is this which has pushed her to find a creative outlet in film, just preferably film with blood, teeth and jump scares. In Depression Is A Beast , director Courtney Dixon sits down with Jenna to discuss what life has been like for her growing up with this constant shadow always hovering in the background, helping to show us with some of her own horror imagery how Jenna’s feelings have been transferred through film. Employing a whole host of visual effects and variety of narrative threads, including animation and home video, Dixon takes the words of Jenna Kanell and runs them through the wringer, squeezing and distilling every drop of horror contained within them until only the imagery remains. The constantly switching visual style along with multiple camera viewpoints, from Super-8, to VHS, to digital and even from Jenna’s major films, all adds to the sense of unease as the viewer listens to Jenna’s story. Plenty of horror themes and tropes are visited in the ever shifting seas of the imagery, but each one hits its mark in conveying what is being said or shared, and none of them ever feel wasted or overused. There’s a very smooth feel behind the production of Depression Is A Beast . Jenna Kanell is a very exciting and engaging focus and she holds the attention of the documentary well, but it’s the production design, visual effects and hard-fire editing which tell you that somebody’s taking this subject seriously. In fact, three different production companies were responsible for each of these elements – with Sequitur Cinema in charge of filming, Mingle taking on post-production and Coat Of Arms creating the VFX – ensuring that the specialists played to their strengths and the best outcome was achieved. Throughout everything though, Courtney Dixon’s vision climbs out of the darkness, through the front of your TV and onto your lap, as she helps you get to grips with the same horror that so many of us carry around. Both Courtney’s and Jenna’s ability to translate their feelings into images allows for a common understanding to be shared in a way that will feel familiar to many and even if horror films are not your bag, Depression Is A Beast will help show you there is nothing to fear. About the Film Critic William Hemingway Short Film, Documentary, LGBTQ+ < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Gunslingers Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: May 14, 2024 Directed by: Jacob Thompson Written by: Tim Chamberlain Starring: Eric Jewett, Lucas Slope What does the retirement plan for an old outlaw look like? There’s so many of them littered throughout fiction, one must question; does the remote ranch come as part of the package? Have mortgage companies agreed to just not run background checks on these guys? And most importantly, do they get a heads up that a young, ambitious upstart is inevitably going to hunt them down to prove point? Jacob Thompson’s Gunslingers looks at the latter, in a fun if frivolous short. In the mountainous wild, young outlaw Danny (Lucas Swope) has finally hunted down his target – the retired old gunslinger Henry McCarty (Eric Jewett). Danny is there to take out McCarty in a duel, to build his own notoriety, but the older man is unfazed. He invites Danny into his ranch to try and talk him down, but ambition and glory prove a deadly combination – leading to a moment of truth for the two of them. Gunslingers is a cliché-filled yet endearing short film, which impressively outperforms a budget that is on the lower end of the scale to result in a tightly-wrapped little old-west legend. Anchored by classic features of the Western, the film never threatens an original thought. But it caringly arranges them to populate its world with two engaging characters and ever-building (if predictable) tension. It also welcomingly takes itself seriously throughout, feeling no desire nor pressure to apologise for its embrace of the Western’s greatest hits. The film is a visual treat, wonderfully realising the vast mountain ranges that themselves are a staple of American cinema. The peaks protectively and ominously overshadow the McCarty ranch, the home and the hills intertwined in a comfortable embrace, which makes Danny’s arrival all the more discomforting. Tension starts to build within the home itself, director Jacob Thompson drawing the viewer closer and closer to the two men and using the normally reassuring staging of the family dinner table to harden their divide. Eric Jewett is a stone wall as Henry McCarty, echoing the classic stoic John Wayne/Clint Eastwod types that so prominently dominate the genre. He is a man at comfort with his past – aware of the carnage he has wrought but seemingly un-haunted by it. Yet a deeper interpretation of the character is inviting itself to the audience, particularly when it becomes clear that McCarty may have had a very different name at some point. Lucas Swope swaggers and sways as the cocky, ambitious Danny – whose frequent ticks and deep drawl present an unnerving temperament. Danny’s journey is of his own making – an interesting twist on the genre that adds a layer of intrigue. Ultimately, Gunslingers is a relatively straightforward Western short that extracts elements of its many inspirations and relies on the comfort of its genre. It doesn’t push any boundaries, but is entertaining enough to demonstrate why they lay where they are. It sits on the homestead rather than venturing on the frontier, but much like Henry McCarty, it shows there is still plenty of life left in the familiar. About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >