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Boy in the Corner film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Cyran Vergara, Victoria Shepherd, Akil Largie, Shaun Pelayo directed by Joshy Lee. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Boy in the Corner Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Nov 27, 2022 Directed by: Joshy Lee Written by: Joshy Lee, Luciano D'Amato Starring: Cyran Vergara, Victoria Shepherd, Akil Largie, Shaun Pelayo A troubled boy gets involved with a gang of criminals. Myles (Vergara) is a quiet schoolboy, who lives with his mother (Shepherd) and little sister and spends his days hanging around with his two friends, playing basketball and practicing on his guitar. Unfortunately, he also has issues and gets into fights at school. As a result, it has been arranged for a mentor (Largie) to see him, much to Myles's annoyance. His life takes a turn for the worst when he meets a local gang who welcome him in their world and make him do illegal errands for them. This feature is a hard-hitting drama that concentrates on the life of a teenager who appears to have lost his way in life and ends up going downhill even more. Myles seems to be unhappy with his life, living in a household that has money problems, disapproving of his mother beginning a relationship. He finds joy and acceptance when he joins the gangsters, who are led by Jaime (Pelayo) and give him money and smart clothing, until he discovers that kind of life is threatening and will most likely get him killed or send him to prison. His decisions end up alienating him from the ones who care about him, including his mother and friends. The screenplay explores how unhappy individuals become part of gangs in the belief that it will lead to a better life and vividly points out that it is a path that will lead to devastating consequences. The performances are strong and Vergara is quite dramatic as a troubled and angry youth who does not talk much and gets involved with the wrong people. Shepherd is emotional as Myles's caring mother, who is deeply concenrned for his well-being and Largie does a great job as a mentor who had a troubled upbringing. In some ways, Pelayo's character serves as the antagonist, a double-faced criminal who can be friendly and also menacing. Filming was done entirey in black-and-white and the cinematography by Tamas Apor Meder creates a downbeat atmosphere. The filmmakers also make effective use of slow motion. Regarding the music by Ana Kasrashvili, it is rather dramatic and there are also a couple of rap songs. Basically, the main message of this film is that a life of crime is a mistake that only leads to bad things. It analyses the circumstances that can lead someone to turn to crime and how that affects them and those around them. Apart from crime, this is also film about self-discovery that looks into inner struggles, friendship and family values. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Beast of Walton St. film review by UK film critic Brandon Thomas. Starring Athena Murzda, Mia Jones directed by Dusty Austen. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Beast of Walton St. Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Brandon Thomas | Posted on: Oct 25, 2023 Directed by: Dusty Austen Written by: Dusty Austen, Athena Murzda Starring: Athena Murzda, Mia Jones A good creature feature is hard to do on an indie budget. Many filmmakers have tried – and failed spectacularly – to bring monsters to life with little money and even worse, little imagination. The Beast of Walton Street bucks that trend by delivering thrilling monster mayhem and a steady supply of wit and heart. In a nameless Ohio town, a beast is roaming the Christmas decorated streets and picking off the most vulnerable: the unhoused. Friends Constance (Athena Murzda) and Sketch (Mia Jones) live on the fringes of society – barely scraping by and living in an abandoned auto repair shop. As the two notice more and more of the city’s at-risk residents disappearing, they decide to take matters into their own hands and defend their town from the ravenous beast. There’s a palpable level of energy that flows through the entirety of The Beast of Walton Stree t. Director Dusty Austen’s competency behind the camera is evident and admirable. The level of care and skill shown toward the craft of filmmaking is immediately recognizable in the editing, blocking, lighting, and shot composition. Craft is something that unfortunately falls to the wayside in many indie films, but in The Beast of Walton Street it’s on full display. Austen is wisely economical when it comes to showing the titular beast (which is actually a werewolf). How Austen chose to shoot and edit around the beast is truly impressive. This reviewer was reminded of Ridley Scott’s Alien on more than one occasion. The ferocity of the werewolf is never lost on the viewer and so much of that is due to Austen’s confident handling of craft. On the flip-side, the human element of Beast of Walton Street is just as impressive. While Murzda carries the film as the lead, both she and Jones have a delightfully charming chemistry that makes the beast-less scenes just as fun. While neither actor has a long resume (yet!), their comfort and flexibility in front of the camera is evident. The Beast of Walton Street doesn’t reinvent the werewolf wheel, but what it does is offer up an Amblin-esque punk rock creature feature, and that is more than enough for me. About the Film Critic Brandon Thomas Indie Feature Film, Film Festival < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Madelines film review by UK film critic Christie Robb. Starring Brea Grant, Parry Shen, Richard Riehle directed by Jason Richard Miller. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Madelines Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Matt Weiner | Posted on: Mar 29, 2022 Directed by: Jason Richard Miller Written by: Brea Grant, Jason Richard Miller Starring: Brea Grant, Parry Shen, Richard Riehle Madeline (Brea Grant, Eastsiders ) and her husband Owen (Parry Shen, General Hospital ) are two independent scientists working on a time travel device in their garage laboratory. Everything seems to be going well. They successfully moved an orange across time and space. They secured investment capital from their backer Rory (Richard Riehle, Office Space /legendary “that guy”). And they are all set to try experimenting on human subjects. But one night, Madeline starts coding after she’s had a few too many wines and sends herself into the future only to return and find out that, due to a typo in the code, she and Rory can expect a new Madeline to return from the future every day at the same time for 3,600 days. What to do? It’s a real conundrum. Directed by Jason Richard Miller (who produced Frozen —no, not the Disney one) and co-written by Brea Grant, the film manages to entertain despite its minuscule cast of three and limited setting. A lot of the credit goes to Grant, who gives individual quirks to the various Madelines that she embodies. Matt Akers’s 80s-inspired synth score is also a real delight, providing the entire project with a late-night direct-to-syndication guilty pleasure vibe. It’s not a movie that can stand up to much logical scrutiny, though. And both the horrific and comedic elements could have been dialed up somewhat. But as an experiment, I think the team is on to something. About the Film Critic Matt Weiner Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

A Mouthful of Air film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Amanda Seyfried, Finn Wittrock, Amy Irving, Paul Giamatti directed by Amy Koppelman. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS A Mouthful of Air Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Jan 18, 2022 Directed by: Amy Koppelman Written by: Amy Koppelman Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Finn Wittrock, Amy Irving, Paul Giamatti Writer Amy Koppelman does not fear the murky, unpopular waters of an unredeemed female protagonist. She challenges you to face that character and recognize your own discomfort, your own desire to either wag your finger or to pity, but not to understand. Her novel I Smile Back gave Sarah Silverman fodder for a blistering, unforgettable lead role in Adam Salky’s uneven 2015 film adaptation. What Silverman ran with was the notion that depression and trauma create selfishness, necessarily, and audiences hate to see selfishness in women. It’s that tension that makes A Mouthful of Air so devastating. Directing her adaptation of her own novel, Koppelman taps Amanda Seyfried to play Julie Davis, a children’s book author and struggling new mom. Seyfried’s performance aches with tenderness and raw emotion, but she never caves in, never makes Julie more sympathetic than she should be. Once again, the tension in the film is the reality that your own personal demons demand as much from those who love you as they demand from you. A Mouthful of Air is not entirely forgiving of all those who orbit Julie — the sister-in-law (Jennifer Carpenter) who’s protective of her brother, the mother (Amy Irving) whose love and lived-in dysfunction play such a role, the father (Michael Gaston). Neither does it condemn. Instead, Koppelman attempts to show the human complexities at work in relationships weighed down with trauma. Finn Wittrock excels at finding a human center — tender, desperate, angry, compassionate – in an underwritten, heroic character. The great Paul Giamatti lends his considerable talent to a small but important role. As was the case with I Smile Back , A Mouthful of Air prefers to hint at past trauma co-mingling with chronic depression without spelling anything out. The result is both appealing in the way it avoids easy answers and problematic in its vagueness. That vagueness is part and parcel of a script that, even with its bravery in depicting an honest truth about motherhood that most films avoid or deny outright, still feels superficial. There’s power here, especially in Seyfried’s raw performance. For all its flaws, A Mouthful of Air is a film you’ll be thinking about long after the credits roll. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Dead Don't Dream film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Alexandra Mayrhofer, Carolina Libanori, Lidia Oliveira directed by Eduardo Justus. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Dead Don't Dream Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Dec 13, 2021 Directed by: Eduardo Justus Written by: Eduardo Justus Starring: Alexandra Mayrhofer, Carolina Libanori, Lidia Oliveira The Dead Don’t Dream is a short oddity from director Eduardo Justus in which a dying man’s choices, passions and fantasies in his life play out in his final dreams. The peculiar film is impressively artistic, but lacks a real emotional punch beyond this. The story plays out in the lucid dreams of a mysterious figure known as ‘The Aviator’ (Eduardo Justus) who is confronted with visions of past lovers – such as Clarice (Alexandra Mayrhofer) and Claudia (Lidia Oliveira) – who manifest representations of his values in life. Their bizarre behaviour is an act which emanates from The Aviator’s internal interpretation of his choices and mistakes. As an artistic and experimental piece, The Dead Don’t Dream is an accomplished and well-directed film which is expressive and daring, though fails to land a real emotional connection with its audience. Eduardo Justus smartly allows his performers to bring energy and life to their roles – with Alexandra Mayrhofer a particular highlight – whilst keeping the overall plot and direction of the story on course. The theme of choices in life, and how they impact those we come across, remains prominent throughout the film’s brief runtime and is apparent despite a high-levels of symbolic and metaphorical theatrics. Mayrhofer’s monologue is the film’s highlight, and her character Clarice is a complex, scorned yet yearning lover who dissects The Aviator’s infidelities, and the impact it has had on others, with precision accuracy. Mayrhofer’s emotiveness brings a remarkable honesty to Clarice’s rant – and prevent it from ever coming across as purely vengeful. The film is largely centred around Clarice, but the strength of the performance gives good reasons as to why. The film however does lack an emotional punch to it outside of the Clarice character, and fails to really establish much of a connection between the remaining characters. It’s strange that Justus seems to neglect The Aviator’s role, given that we are supposedly experiencing the story through his perception – and the rest of the women in the cast are given markedly less to do than Mayrhofer. It would have been welcome to have insight into the wider consequences of the Aviator’s actions – even through his own perceptions. The performative roles that Carolina Libanori and Lidia Oliveira play fail to demonstrate this in the intended manner. The film also suffers at points from its lower budget, with unintentional shaky-cam an unwelcome distraction in moments, and unacceptably poor image quality over a scene involving the filling-up of a sink. Quite whether this is some kind of meta-effect in uncertain, though if it is, it has certainly gone over this reviewer’s head. Though a relatively minor complaint, it does degrade the rest of the film. There are interesting ideas in The Dead Don’t Dream, which are executed with mixed success. The film is worth checking out for Alexandra Mayrhofer’s performance alone, but outside of this there is a sense that the film misses an extra spark to elevate it above other experimental shorts. About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Two Deaf Travellers film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Raabia Hussain, William Horsefield directed by Raabia Hussain. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Two Deaf Travellers Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Oct 15, 2021 Directed by: Raabia Hussain Written by: Raabia Hussain Starring: Raabia Hussain, William Horsefield Language barriers are broken in more ways than one in Two Deaf Travellers, a short film following two travellers across Europe, who are, well… deaf. Raabia Hussain and William Horsefield demonstrate the unrecognised complexities of relying on sign language to communicate in foreign cultures, as they journey to Italy, Greece and Cyprus in search of an exciting getaway. Raabia and William’s trip takes them across 3 countries, multiple cities, and more sights, bars and restaurants then you can count on both hands. Along the way they encounter a number of difficulties communicating with locals due to their hearing impediment – relying on a mixture of sign language and more primitive pointing and gesturing – with results varying from frustrating to amusing. The jovial and light-hearted tone of the documentary, and the upbeat nature of the hosts, makes the film a wholesome affair. But amongst the difficulties the pair experience, is also an interesting lesson for audiences and an important insight into what it is like to live with deafness. There is an undeniable sense from the film that the world is designed for those who can hear, and far few of us are prepared for those who lack the ability to. Despite every foreign local the pair come across having a friendly and welcoming attitude, they still lack the ability to communicate in their preferred manner. It is easy to empathise with Will and Raabia, and for the millions of deaf or hard of hearing in the same situation. Despite the documentary focusing largely on deafness, it is also a strong statement in of itself that disability does not stand in the way of producing entertaining and informative content. Will and Raabia’s journeys take them to some fascinating locations around Naples, Athens, Limassol and more, including catacombs, shipwrecks and waterfalls. They are always armed with interesting factoids and trivia for their adventures, which will enlighten audiences as well as entertain. The pair’s chemistry also brings a sparkle to the short and adds a friendly touch to the piece – an essential element of any good travel doc. Similarly, the film is well shot and produced, although fails to really stand out in comparison to other travel documentaries. The locations are scenic, and largely done justice by the camerawork of the film’s star subjects. But for seasoned travel enthusiasts, it is unlikely to cover any new ground. However, given that the true purpose of the short is to inform audiences of the realities of deafness, and travelling with the disability, this hardly detracts from the piece’s objectives. A short and sweet documentary which gives a tiny taste of life with deafness, Two Deaf Travellers is an invigorating and heart-warming watch which acts as a gentle lesson for how we could all do with increasing our awareness of sign-language – no matter what our mother tongue may be. About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film, Documentary, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Rotten fruit of Eden film review by UK film critic Swati Verma. Starring David Black, Hope Beale directed by David Black. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Rotten fruit of Eden Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Swati Verma | Posted on: Nov 8, 2021 Directed by: David Black Written by: David Black Starring: David Black, Hope Beale The short film has a black and white theme to it. In the first scene, the audience is made known to a devil busy laughing and fidgeting about with a piece of clothing. The cinematic piece tells the tale of a one-to-one conversation between Adam and the snake. The snake is trying very hard to entice the protagonist to eat the fruit from the tree of life. She tries to lure him into the trap by playing the immortality card. While Adam also puts forward a strong argument. It makes convincing him a difficult task for the beautiful snake. The makers of the short film have kept the conclusion of the movie in an open-ended format. They have decided to give the viewers a chance to find the answer to whether Adam could resist the urge to eat the fruit offered to him by the snake. The cast and crew of the film have highlighted a beautiful life lesson through a well-constructed narrative. The setting of the film, the character sketch and costumes of both the characters is very apt. The only weakness I could find was that the dialogues and the visuals didn't match in some of the scenes during the discussion between the two central characters. About the Film Critic Swati Verma Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

A Wiseguy Christmas film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Nino Cimino, Jaclyn Marfuggi, Chris Spinelli, Sam Dobbins directed by Gregory Hatanaka. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS A Wiseguy Christmas Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jul 19, 2022 Directed by: Gregory Hatanaka Written by: Nino Cimino Starring: Nino Cimino, Jaclyn Marfuggi, Chris Spinelli, Sam Dobbins As the title suggests, this is a festive film with gangsters. To be more precise, it is a Christmas crime comedy. Tony (Cimino) is a former New York City crime boss, who dislikes Christmas and has been placed in the Witness Protection Program after he agreed to testify against associates. Now living in Los Angeles, he is under the supervision of Marty (Spinelli), an FBI agent. Christmas holidays are approaching and Tony meets new people, finds romance, arranges a burglary and gradually rediscovers the joy of Christmas. This fun movie bears similarities to the 1999 comedy Analyze This . The main character is a mobster (a recent one) and the screenplay follows him as he influences those around and maintains his illegitimate habits. He tries to convince Marty to enjoy life more, he starts a romantic relationship with Natalie (Marfuggi), a police detective and he meets David (Dobbins), a man who dresses up as Father Christmas for a Children's Hospital, who Tony convinces to collaborate with him in order to steal the money from donations to the hospital. While Tony is doing all this, gangsters from his past are out to harm him. The movie relies heavily on humorous dialogue in order to be amusing and it succeeds at that. The acting is not great, which is not necessarily a negative element as the performances are entertaining, particularly by Cimino. Cimino's character is the one who steals the show, with his behaviour, personality and loud voice. He is a rather charismatic and optimistic person who goes through significant changes as he helps others and learns the values of Christmas. There are many interesting characters, including cheerful Marty and Natalie, the determined detective who becomes Tony's love interest and it is obvious that the cast are having fun with their roles. The light-hearted music that is heard throughout the feature contributes in creating a joyful atmosphere. It would be fair to say that at times things get a bit too silly, nevertheless, Cimino's entertaining screenplay makes this film an appealing viewing about self-discovery, crime, about enjoying life and appreciating the meaning of Christmas. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, Death of a Unicorn is about a father (Paul Rudd) and daughter (Jenna Ortega) accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat.. Brand new film trailers. Death of a Unicorn Official Trailer Starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, Death of a Unicorn is about a father (Paul Rudd) and daughter (Jenna Ortega) accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat, where his billionaire boss (Richard E. Grant) seeks to exploit the creature’s miraculous curative properties. Along with the good news that this official trailer for Death of a Unicorn has been released, film fans will also be pleased to hear the movie will be released in UK and Irish cinemas by Entertainment Film Distributors on 4th April 2025. The film is written and directed by filmmaker Alex Scharfman. The Carpenter's Son We anticipate that The Carpenter's Son will be less of a retelling and more of a deeply disquieting examination of power, temptation, and the human cost of being chosen. It arrives on 21st November. Eternity Eternity looks set to be a sophisticated, imaginative film that avoids the usual genre clichés by grounding its absurd plot in stellar performances. Kontinental '25 The promotional material and critical buzz surrounding Kontinental ’25 confirm that the winner of the Silver Berlin Bear for Best Screenplay is not only back, but operating at a fever pitch of urgency and daring. Anniversary Kenny Dalglish It's rare for a documentary trailer to stir the soul quite as effectively as the first look at Kenny Dalglish, the upcoming feature focusing on the life and legacy of one of British football's most revered and complex figures. Is This Thing On? Searchlight Pictures has premiered the teaser trailer for Is This Thing On?, and it suggests we are in for a sharp, melancholic comedy that mines the humour and heartbreak of mid-life crisis through the lens of stand-up. Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere The first official trailer for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, the biopic chronicling the turbulent creation of the 1982 masterpiece Nebraska, has landed. The Bride The latest tease for The Bride, the highly anticipated 2026 offering from Maggie Gyllenhaal, has dropped, and if this brief glimpse is anything to go by, British cinema-goers should prepare themselves for a truly spectacular and unsettling cinematic experience. A Tooth Fairy Tale Overall, the trailer for A Tooth Fairy Tale delivers exactly what it needs to: a clear premise, an exciting quest, and the promise of high-quality vocal performances. Delivery Run From the first stark frames of the trailer for Delivery Run, it is immediately clear that this is a thriller operating under pressure. In Your Dreams "In Your Dreams," a new animated comedy set to enchant audiences. This delightful film, co-directed by Alex Woo and Erik Benson, promises a fantastical journey into the boundless landscape of dreams, arriving on November 14, 2025. A House of Dynamite A House of Dynamite, a gripping new thriller that plunges audiences into a high-stakes global crisis. The trailer for Bigelow's latest offering paints a chilling picture of a world on the brink, arriving in select UK cinemas on October 3rd The Man in My Basement With an intense psychological trailer that leaves you with more questions than answers, Andscape’s new film The Man in My Basement is poised to be a must-watch for UK and Ireland audiences, arriving on Disney+ on Friday, 26th September. Wicked: For Good The final trailer for Wicked: For Good has finally landed, promising an electrifying and emotional conclusion to the untold story of the Witches of Oz. Time Travel Is Dangerous The moment we clapped eyes on the first trailer for Time Travel Is Dangerous, we knew we were in for something special. Blending the charming, grounded sensibility of a classic British comedy with the mind-bending chaos of a high-concept sci-fi flick, this film promises a riotous journey through time and space. Game The trailer for the film GAME, set for release in November 2025, falls squarely into that last category. It's a two-minute masterclass in tension, leaving you with more questions than answers and a palpable sense of unease. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Don Q Don Q will be available on digital platforms in the UK on 15 September, thanks to Reel2Reel Films. John Candy: I Like Me The new documentary, John Candy: I Like Me, directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, offers a poignant and intimate look at the man behind the memorable characters. Eschewing the typical celebratory retrospective, the film embarks on a journey to humanise an icon, exploring his personal struggles, deep-seated anxieties, and the profound impact he had on those who knew him best. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues Spinal Tap II: The End Continues. Set for a glorious return to UK cinemas this September, this film promises to be a welcome, if profoundly daft, comeback for the geriatric rockers.

As A Joke film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Ben Xiao, Ru Gupte, Estee Poichot, Thomas Tricerri directed by Phoebe Critchlow, Natalie Hay. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS As A Joke Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Oct 19, 2025 Directed by: Phoebe Critchlow, Natalie Hay Written by: Natalie Hay, Bri Power Starring: Ben Xiao, Ru Gupte, Estee Poichot, Thomas Tricerri A short dark comedy written by Natalie Hay, Bri Power, directed by Phoebe Critchlow and Natalie Hay and starring Ben Xiao, Ru Gupte, Estee Poichot and Thomas Tricerri. Owen (Xiao) has found himself in quite a situation: he has just murdered his best friend (Tricerri). Apparently, there had been an altercation between them in Owen's apartment and he shoved his friend roughly, causing him to fall and die on the kitchen floor. Now owen is panicking and does not know what to do. By accident, he grabs the attention of his smart home device and proceeds to ask advice regarding getting rid of the dead body. The aftermath of a terrible incident, leading to an awkward interaction between a young man and an electronic device. The story starts off as a serious thriller, before turning into a darkly comical situation involving the disposal of a corpse. Owen desperately and repeatedly asks for the device's advice on what to do and he is given it, as he has tricked the device in to believing that he wants to learn how to get rid of a body as a joke. Dark humour, gore, drama and gruesomeness dominate this film. The narrative is intriguing and amusing (as far as dark humour goes), however it ends in a sort of cliffhanger, which is OK, still though one might think that the story could had carried on beyond that point. Xiao delivers an entertaining performance. His character is a naive (and as it turns out: bad-tempered and disturbed) guy who has suddenly found himself having to cover up his crime, all while being assisted by a device with a female voice (Gupte provides the voice for the device and it is named Mimi), like a child asking their mother for help to clean up their mess. In the blink of an eye, he turns into a killer and body mutilator. This is a story about murder and consequences, desperation and it also serves as a comedic commentary about how much people rely on technology these days. Three-and-a-half minutes of dark humour. A viewing that will most likely be amusing to those who enjoy dark comedies with very dark humour. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

It's Not All Rock & Roll film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Dave Doughman, Ludwig Jackson Hummer, Martin Boeters directed by Jim Burns. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS It's Not All Rock & Roll Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Jul 23, 2022 Directed by: Jim Burns Written by: Angela Slaven & Jim Burns Starring: Dave Doughman, Ludwig Jackson Hummer, Martin Boeters There are layers that exist below all art and all artists. Different faces of the same people that come together to create works that speak to fans and admirers who the creator may never meet. It’s Not All Rock & Roll is a classic rockumentary examining niche, Hamburg-residing indie ban Swearing At Motorists’ frontman Dave Doughman – and whilst its subject might not be throwing any TVs out of windows or engaging in all-night cocaine binges, this deconstruction of the man behind the music is an endearing examination of an artist and life on the road. The film intimately follows Doughman through his life – on stage, on the road, at home and at work. Far from the luxury rockstar lifestyle, Doughman plays most gigs at small clubs and bars, works at a dockyard to support his music, and raises his son lovingly at home. But his undeniable stage charisma is clear when performing for the band’s die-hard fans. As he performs in both Germany and his native America, the documentary is a consideration of Doughman’s dissonance – as both a rock maverick and an everyday working man. It's Not All Rock & Roll is really (ironically) for people who love rock and roll – and Swearing At Motorists especially. As Doughman himself states in the film – it’s about his lack of fame. It’s about the co-existence of a relatively normal everyday lifestyle with the pursuit of passion. However this is no sob-story about some loser who laments never hitting the big-time or being dragged kicking and screaming into obscurity – but instead about a man who on the surface at least has balanced his art and his family. That’s not to say that the film doesn’t focus on a complex individual. Doughman talks at length about his upbringing and his battles with depression, as well as his struggles in raising his own son. His affable demeanour clearly hides personal battles that he details through his music. And one scene in which he argues with a pool-player making too much noise at one of his gigs makes for an electrifying exchange in which a confrontational nature reveals itself and causes high tension on stage (although any self-respecting rockstar really ought to be drowning out the sound of a game of pool – sorry Dave). There is some sense of ‘why’ lacking from the film for those who do not follow the band or care much about the lives of musicians. There is no real dramatic thread-line to hook viewers as they watch the band’s tour get underway, and where the film clearly tries to uncover what drives Doughman to continue his unique dual-life for as long as he has, there is also the lack of a ‘Eureka’ moment to capture the heart of the man at the heart of the film. Audiences would be forgiven for feeling they still have things to uncover about the true Dave Doughman despite the length of time spent with him – though this may be down as much to Doughman’s inherent enigma rather than any fault of the filmmakers. It’s Not All Rock & Roll shows the reality of most artists and musicians who spend their lives balancing their creativity and the demands of the modern world. Whilst it is a little overlong, and a little lacking in drama, even non-music lovers should appreciate the lengths artists like Dave Doughman go to brighten up the world – even when it feels like no-one is watching. About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film, Documentary, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Everyone Will Burn film review by UK film critic Brandon Thomas. Starring Macarena Gomez, Sofia Garcoa directed by David Hebrero. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Everyone Will Burn Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Brandon Thomas | Posted on: Dec 4, 2023 Directed by: David Hebrero Written by: David Hebrero, Javier Kiran Starring: Macarena Gomez, Sofia Garcoa Ten years after her bullied son died by suicide, Maria (Macarena Gomez) looks to end her own life on a lonely bridge in the Spanish countryside. Before she can make the decision, Maria is approached by a small girl covered in soot and dirt. The girl, Lucia (Sofia Garcia) has achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism and also the same condition Maria’s son had. As Maria and Lucia’s bond intensifies, so does Lucia’s desire to rid the small town of the people who tormented Maria’s son and have continued to antagonize his suffering mother. Director David Hebrero throws a lot at the wall with Everyone Will Burn and amazingly, most of it sticks. Most prominently is the exploration of how people with certain mysterious health conditions are treated as “other” or even “evil”. It’s an ugly part of humanity we all believe to be in the past, but Hebrero puts the spotlight on how fear and misunderstanding can bring out the worst in even the most well-intentioned people. Hebrero’s visual language is hypnotic and often dream-like throughout. As Lucia dispatches members of the community (the highlight being the opening few minutes that leaves a policeman engulfed in flames), the nightmarish events taking place are fully realized through the expert camerawork. Similar to American filmmaker Ari Aster, Hebrero wrings a copious amount of tension out of seemingly mundane scenes around a dinner table or after a funeral. These are the scenes that left me squirming in my seat – not the ones involving carnage. Gomez is mesmerizing as the haunted Maria. There’s a lot of emotional weight to this performance and Gomez seamlessly transfers Maria’s grief and guilt from earlier in the movie, to wrath and righteous anger in the back half. It’s a performance so captivating that, despite Maria’s spiral into bloody vengeance, you can’t help but cheer her on. Everyone Will Burn starts strong and never lets its foot off of the gas pedal for the entire 2 hour running time. Visually, emotionally, and viscerally, this is a film that will stand tall and proud alongside the other excellent horror films of 2023. About the Film Critic Brandon Thomas Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >