All Eyes Off Me film review by UK film critic Rachel Willis. Starring Elisheva Weil, Leib Levin, Yoav Hayt directed by Hadas Ben Aroya. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS All Eyes Off Me Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Rachel Willis | Posted on: Jan 19, 2023 Directed by: Hadas Ben Aroya Written by: Hadas Ben Aroya Starring: Elisheva Weil, Leib Levin, Yoav Hayt Sex can be one of the most (if not the most) intimate experiences in human existence. However, there are things that interfere to reduce or eliminate the intimacy of sexual relations. This is examined in rich detail by writer/director Hadas Ben Aroya in the new film, All Eyes Off Me. The film is told in three vignettes, and we start the film following Danny (Hadar Katz). She’s at a party searching for Max (Leib Levin). She’s pregnant and wants him to know. Events interfere with her goal, offering our first look at how an intimate experience can be monumental to one person and insignificant to another. While the first vignette is the shortest, it opens the door to further exploration as we follow Max into the second. He’s starting a new relationship with Avishag (Elisheva Weil), a woman with whom he not only shares physical intimacy, but emotional intimacy as well, trusting her in a way he’s never trusted anyone. She tries to extend this trust during an intimate moment, delivering an uncomfortable scene full of intimacy but no trust. This is an especially relatable instance that becomes poignant for a young couple wrapped up in love and lust. Where does one end and the other begin? It raises questions regarding those moments in which lust is confused with love and unveils the outcome when two people sharing these personal moments aren’t necessarily on the same page emotionally. Avishag carries us into the third vignette. This is the one that brings a certain maturity to the nature of sexual relationships. Sexual attraction doesn’t always result in sex, but that doesn’t lessen the intimacy or the connection between two people. While the film puts sex at the forefront of these connections, Aroya highlights that this isn’t the only form of intimacy. There’s trust and emotional connection. Physical attraction comes in many forms, often springing from an emotional exploration. Weil is the most prominent performer in these vignettes; she’s a great focal point, as Avishag is our most relatable character. Aroya has crafted a fantastic, naturalistic film that will make you consider your own relationships. Films that keep you thinking are often the films that stay with you. This is one of those films. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Rachel Willis Digital / DVD Release, World Cinema, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Ahead (Music Video) film review by UK film critic James Learoyd. Starring *N/A directed by David Reynolds. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Ahead (Music Video) Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: James Learoyd | Posted on: Sep 3, 2026 Directed by: David Reynolds Written by: David Reynolds Starring: *N/A Ahead is a new music video featuring a moving song and some stunning landscapes. David Reynolds is an Alaskan Indie Folk Artist, as well as a filmmaker, and here he’s produced a short form work which is certainly functional as a piece of visual accompaniment. It does, however, lack polish. The film follows a woman wandering around the stunning snow-covered surroundings, traversing past mountains and navigating through forests. The film’s cinematography is unconventional for a music video since it’s comprised of mainly handheld shots – potentially shot on a phone – but resulting in a fairly effective style. Perhaps the most original visual conceit of this piece is its inclusion of textural extreme closeups of natural phenomena; specifically, the rough bark of a tree, and the cracks of thick ice. It’s difficult to determine why and how this works so well in the contexts of a music video, but surely part of the reason is that the wistful characteristic of the music complements the sensory evocations of the imagery in question. Slightly less effective – yet still equally as intriguing – is the decision to include many shots that start out of focus, and either remain so, or slowly come into focus. It’s not ‘original’, but music and nature are two things that go hand in hand, and Ahead is a work that capitalises on that idea. The aspect of the video that will appeal to most viewers is the way in which the Alaskan landscapes are photographed. There are a few utterly awe-inspiring compositions. And from an editorial standpoint, the filmmaker knows to hold on these shots and allow the viewer to take in the majesty of its expanse. The music itself is a pleasant listen; although unlike the video’s visual construction, it’s very conventional. There’s a lot to like about the guitar and the spirit with which the lyrics are written. However, there’s not too much to digest here musically, as far as this’s critic’s concerned. What this music video struggles with, unfortunately, is the slightly vloggy sensibility of the footage. As lovely as the landscapes are, and though the choice of shots is frequently intriguing, there’s just something technically held-back on the production side. To rectify this, slightly more deliberate, static shots and less handheld might provide the aesthetic that step towards a more consistent visual appearance – and something that feels more constructed, in a formal sense. Having said that, and having expressed my reservations, it does bring me onto an important point: I would much farther watch a video like this – with all of its handmade flaws and idiosyncrasies – than any of the flat, glossy high-budget music productions that are churned out. The reason being is that Ahead has a truly personal edge to it. Images like these do not arise from the sterile, high-budget restrictions of a fully storyboarded, studio-filmed music video production. Is this messier? Yes. But it’s also far richer. This is not a flawless work, nor is it even especially refined. But it has a deeply positive energy to it, and many creative decisions to admire. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic James Learoyd Music Video < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Film news - Bad Hair Gets Digital Release July 5th 2021. Find out more at UK Film Review. Bad Hair Gets Digital Release July 5th 2021 Chris Olson Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 3:57:47 PM GMT+1 From acclaimed writer/director Justin Simien (Dear White People) comes a horrifically fun and delightfully macabre new film. BAD HAIR follows an ambitious young woman (Elle Lorraine) who gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television in the 1980s. However, her flourishing career comes at a great cost when she realises that her new hair may have a mind of its own and a taste for blood. With an outstanding cast and a stunning soundtrack, this impressive, resonant and chilling horror provides both scares and laughs. Prepare yourself as terror takes root... Available on Digital EST from Mon 5th July Available on DVD, Blu Ray and Digital TVOD from Mon 12th July BBFC Certificate: 15 Starring Elle Lorraine, Jay Pharoah, Lena Waithe, Kelly Rowland, Laverne Cox, Chanté Adams, James Van Der Beek, Usher Raymond IV, Blair Underwood, and Vanessa Williams The King's Man UK Home Release Date Announced The Latest King’s Man Film Will be Available on Digital February 9 and 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 21. Read Now BFI Future Film Festival announces 2022 Awards Jury and full programme Find out who the jury is for the 2022 BFI Future Film Festival. Read Now The Wonderful: Stories From The Space Station UK Release Date The Wonderful: Stories from the Space Station is a Dog Star Films production in association with Fisheye Films. Directed by Clare Lewins (I Am Ali, Kareem: Minority of One, The Lost Tapes of Memphis.). Read Now Redemption of a Rogue UK Cinema Release Date Read Now Cryptozoo Coming to Mubi This October Having made a splash at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, filmmaker Dash Shaw's upcoming fantasy animation Cryptozoo is a highly anticipated film coming to Mubi later this year. Read Now Another Round UK DVD And Blu-Ray Release Date Announced Following its acclaimed cinema release, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of Thomas Vinterberg’s intoxicating Oscar winner, ANOTHER ROUND, starring Mads Mikkelsen, on early EST 24th September 2021 and DVD, Blu-ray and Digital on 27th September 2021. Read Now Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow DVD and Blu-Ray UK Release Date Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow To Land Early On Digital (August 10th) and 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD September 13th. Read Now My Little Sister Gets October UK Release Date My Little Sister is due for a cinema release in the UK, on Friday 8th October 2021. Read Now Grimmfest Reveals Line-Up for 2021 Film Festival After a year of “home invasions” in the form of virtual screenings and online events, this October sees Grimmfest returning to the cinema at last. Read Now Helen Mirren Narrates Powerful Documentary Escape From Extinction Kaleidoscope Entertainment presents Escape From Extinction, a powerful feature documentary narrated by Academy Award winner Dame Helen Mirren, coming to selected cinemas from 17th September celebrating ‘Great Big Green Week’ (18-26 September). Read Now Supernova UK DVD and Blu-Ray Release Date Following critical acclaim and standout performances, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of the heartbreaking British love story SUPERNOVA, arriving on EST 24th September 2021 and DVD and Blu-ray on 27th September 2021. Read Now The Djinn UK Release Date The story follows a mute twelve-year-old, Dylan Jacobs, as he discovers a mysterious book of spells inside his new apartment. Read Now Come Play UK Digital Release Date Jacob Chase’s directorial debut feature COME PLAY tells the story of Oliver, a solitary autistic boy who comes across a creepy children’s story on his new tablet. Read Now 15m Giant Starfish in Leicester Square Ahead of UK Release of The Suicide Squad British actor Peter Capaldi (BBC’s Doctor Who, World War Z) ‒ who stars in THE SUICIDE SQUAD alongside Margot Robbie, Idris Elba and John Cena as genius scientist ‘Thinker’, was bravely photographed with the imposing creature Starro in London’s Leicester Square earlier today in celebration of the film’s UK release this coming Friday. Read Now West Side Story In Cinemas December 2021 From acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, the 2021 remake of West Side Story will be coming to cinemas in December 2021. Read Now The Last Job UK Digital and DVD Release Date Screen icon Richard Dreyfuss takes on The Last Job in a brand new, all-action thriller, that stars Modern Family’s Mira Sorvino as his daughter. This rip-roaring gangster movie hits the UK on DVD and digital this August from 101 Films. Read Now Rise of the Footsoldier Origins UK Cinema Release The eagerly-awaited RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER: ORIGINS, starring legendary leading man Vinnie Jones, is showing exclusively in cinemas from September 3, courtesy of Signature Entertainment. Read Now Random Acts of Violence UK DVD and Blu-ray Release Date Jay Baruchel writes, directs and stars in his horror debut Random Acts of Violence, which makes its UK Blu-ray debut from Acorn Media International in conjunction with Shudder, following its success on the streaming service. Read Now Spirited Away 20th Anniversary Special Edition SPIRITED AWAY COLLECTOR’S BOXSET WITH DVD & BLU-RAY DOUBLEPLAY AVAILABLE 27 SEPTEMBER 2021 Read Now A New World Order Premieres in UK 23 August Black Mirror meets A Quiet Place in gripping sci-fi thriller A New World Order from director Daniel Raboldt in his feature debut, which gets its UK premiere on DVD and digital 23 August 2021 from Reel 2 Reel Films. Read Now

Film news - Ellie & Abbie (And Ellie's Dead Aunt) UK Release Date. Find out more at UK Film Review. Ellie & Abbie (And Ellie's Dead Aunt) UK Release Date Chris Olson Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:44:45 PM GMT+1 ELLIE & ABBIE (AND ELLIE’S DEAD AUNT) UK Release Date Announced Today it was announced that Ellie & Abbie (And Ellie’s Dead Aunt) will be released in UK cinemas on 11th June 2021. Ellie & Abbie is a heartfelt and hilarious queer teen rom-com from Sydney-based writer-director Monica Zanetti, who is known for her first feature film Skin Deep which picked up awards and accolades at film festivals. Ellie & Abbie looks set on the same path, already winning over audiences at film festivals all over the world including winning the Audience Award for best narrative at Mardi Gras 2020. The film is a fresh take on the ‘coming of age, first love story’ and alongside it a nod to the LGBTQI+ activist history in Australia; celebrating the massive inroads to equality made over time. Fifty percent of the cast are LGBTQI+ School captain Ellie (Sophie Hawkshaw) has a serious crush on her classmate Abbie (Zoe Terakes), and is worrying over inviting her to the Year 12 formal. When Ellie accidentally spills the beans to her mum (Marta Dusseldorp) and outs herself in the process, things start to get complicated and a little bit spooky. Enter her deceased aunt Tara (Julia Billington), a lesbian activist from the ‘80s who returns from the dead to act as a kind of fairy godmother to Ellie, guiding her through the trials and tribulations of her first love. Sophie Hawkshaw (Puberty Blues, Riz ) plays Ellie and non-binary actor Zoe Terakes, is Abbie (ABC’s Janet King ). Julia Billington is Aunt Tara (Home & Away, Janet King ) and Marta Dusseldorp is Erica, Ellie’s mother. Marta is one of Australia’s most recognised actresses, having won an AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama for Janet King. Rachel House rounds out the cast as Patty, a previous partner of Aunt Tara’s and now family friend. She is a familiar face in many Taika Waititi films including Hunt for The Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok. Read our Ellie & Abbie review in our March 2021 film magazine. The King's Man UK Home Release Date Announced The Latest King’s Man Film Will be Available on Digital February 9 and 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 21. Read Now BFI Future Film Festival announces 2022 Awards Jury and full programme Find out who the jury is for the 2022 BFI Future Film Festival. Read Now The Wonderful: Stories From The Space Station UK Release Date The Wonderful: Stories from the Space Station is a Dog Star Films production in association with Fisheye Films. Directed by Clare Lewins (I Am Ali, Kareem: Minority of One, The Lost Tapes of Memphis.). Read Now Redemption of a Rogue UK Cinema Release Date Read Now Cryptozoo Coming to Mubi This October Having made a splash at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, filmmaker Dash Shaw's upcoming fantasy animation Cryptozoo is a highly anticipated film coming to Mubi later this year. Read Now Another Round UK DVD And Blu-Ray Release Date Announced Following its acclaimed cinema release, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of Thomas Vinterberg’s intoxicating Oscar winner, ANOTHER ROUND, starring Mads Mikkelsen, on early EST 24th September 2021 and DVD, Blu-ray and Digital on 27th September 2021. Read Now Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow DVD and Blu-Ray UK Release Date Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow To Land Early On Digital (August 10th) and 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD September 13th. Read Now My Little Sister Gets October UK Release Date My Little Sister is due for a cinema release in the UK, on Friday 8th October 2021. Read Now Grimmfest Reveals Line-Up for 2021 Film Festival After a year of “home invasions” in the form of virtual screenings and online events, this October sees Grimmfest returning to the cinema at last. Read Now Helen Mirren Narrates Powerful Documentary Escape From Extinction Kaleidoscope Entertainment presents Escape From Extinction, a powerful feature documentary narrated by Academy Award winner Dame Helen Mirren, coming to selected cinemas from 17th September celebrating ‘Great Big Green Week’ (18-26 September). Read Now Supernova UK DVD and Blu-Ray Release Date Following critical acclaim and standout performances, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of the heartbreaking British love story SUPERNOVA, arriving on EST 24th September 2021 and DVD and Blu-ray on 27th September 2021. Read Now The Djinn UK Release Date The story follows a mute twelve-year-old, Dylan Jacobs, as he discovers a mysterious book of spells inside his new apartment. Read Now Come Play UK Digital Release Date Jacob Chase’s directorial debut feature COME PLAY tells the story of Oliver, a solitary autistic boy who comes across a creepy children’s story on his new tablet. Read Now 15m Giant Starfish in Leicester Square Ahead of UK Release of The Suicide Squad British actor Peter Capaldi (BBC’s Doctor Who, World War Z) ‒ who stars in THE SUICIDE SQUAD alongside Margot Robbie, Idris Elba and John Cena as genius scientist ‘Thinker’, was bravely photographed with the imposing creature Starro in London’s Leicester Square earlier today in celebration of the film’s UK release this coming Friday. Read Now West Side Story In Cinemas December 2021 From acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, the 2021 remake of West Side Story will be coming to cinemas in December 2021. Read Now The Last Job UK Digital and DVD Release Date Screen icon Richard Dreyfuss takes on The Last Job in a brand new, all-action thriller, that stars Modern Family’s Mira Sorvino as his daughter. This rip-roaring gangster movie hits the UK on DVD and digital this August from 101 Films. Read Now Rise of the Footsoldier Origins UK Cinema Release The eagerly-awaited RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER: ORIGINS, starring legendary leading man Vinnie Jones, is showing exclusively in cinemas from September 3, courtesy of Signature Entertainment. Read Now Random Acts of Violence UK DVD and Blu-ray Release Date Jay Baruchel writes, directs and stars in his horror debut Random Acts of Violence, which makes its UK Blu-ray debut from Acorn Media International in conjunction with Shudder, following its success on the streaming service. Read Now Spirited Away 20th Anniversary Special Edition SPIRITED AWAY COLLECTOR’S BOXSET WITH DVD & BLU-RAY DOUBLEPLAY AVAILABLE 27 SEPTEMBER 2021 Read Now A New World Order Premieres in UK 23 August Black Mirror meets A Quiet Place in gripping sci-fi thriller A New World Order from director Daniel Raboldt in his feature debut, which gets its UK premiere on DVD and digital 23 August 2021 from Reel 2 Reel Films. Read Now

House? film review by UK film critic Rob Jones. Starring None directed by Farouq Mohime. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS House? Film Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Critic: Rob Jones | Posted on: Mar 21, 2023 Directed by: Farouq Mohime Written by: Farouq Mohime Starring: None For a film to start with interview footage of Orson Welles proclaiming that a good film is easy to make, a certain expectation is set. Not necessarily that what we’re about to see is a film that considers itself good, but perhaps that it’s about to build on that stance or smash it apart completely. Either of those options would have been an interesting approach, but neither is representative of what House? really is. There’s more of an abstract idea at the centre of the narrative than there is any kind of traditional structure, but it doesn’t appear to be anything to do with anything that we hear from Welles at the start. Soundtracked by an Iranian song with is subtitled throughout, it almost takes on the form of a music video more than it does a film. As the lyrics talk quite generally about a house, we get a monochromatic tour of one with only a single character. Like with the footage of Welles at the start, though, it’s unclear where the character is supposed to feature. In fact, it’s not even clear where the character is supposed to be there at all as all they are is a moving figure in the distance. Everything else is just walls, doors and floors without much movement. There are some issues with the cinematography that are difficult to ignore. It seems as if there are multiple instances where the camera has been forced into a tight space, and the resulting shot feels unnatural and claustrophobic as a result of it. In one example of a 360-degree panning shot, we end up with a few seconds just of a plain white wall because of it, and again it’s unclear where this is supposed to add anything. It would have perhaps been beneficial to have been given more context at the beginning if there is any to share. It feels as if a small idea has been stretched out to become a short film without much purpose, and opening on a quote that seems to bear little meaning to the film itself only adds to that. If there is more to it than just a few shots of a home’s interior while a vaguely related song plays, there needs to be more of a trail for us to follow. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Rob Jones Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

EFC film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Karlee Jones, Kathryn Aboya, Avaah Blackwell directed by Jaze Bordeaux, Wayne Wells. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS EFC Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Mar 3, 2025 Directed by: Jaze Bordeaux, Wayne Wells Written by: Jaze Boreaux, Greg Jackson, Ilham Aragrag Starring: Karlee Jones, Kathryn Aboya, Avaah Blackwell A bitter rivalry, vicious brawls and suspensions – and yet somehow Jaze Bordeaux’s EFC has nothing to do with the latest Merseyside derby. This feature length drama is a gloriously corny cage-fighting spectacle – which lands its biggest punches with brutally realistic fight sequences but lacks the ground game of a coherent plot. Rivals Cassady Jones (Karlee Rose) and Alexa Star (Kathryn Aboya) are two of the biggest stars in women’s combat sports – but when a title fight turns sour, a tournament is announced to crown a new queen of the cage. Whilst the fighters duke it out, the behind-the-scenes business dealings turn just as brutal – as the soul and future of the sport is on the line. Inspired by the tumultuous early years of the UFC as well as the breakout of women’s superstars like Ronda Rousey, EFC is a sequence of bone-crunching cage fights with a semblance of a plot tacked on. Jaze Bordeaux’s appreciation for MMA as a sport and the usage of real cage fighters in the film’s creation pays dividends for the quality of the fight scenes that make up a large part of the film’s running time – which are an impressive realisation of what MMA fights actually look like. Sure - there’s the blood and broken bones that fans pay admission for, but the grappling, ground and pound and flow of real fights also comes through to make for a pretty authentic representation. Outstanding sound design, which adds an extra layer to the violence, is the icing on the cake. If the fights are title contenders, the actual storyline around them carries a losing record. The background drama around the competition’s future is scarcely believable, and the central rivalry between Star and Jones is so cheesy that it feels more pro wrestling than pro fighting. It’s a world away from Gavin O’Connor’s seminal Warrior, that brings the intensity of the fight scene whilst maintaining a gripping story throughout – EFC’ s story is soap opera in comparison. There is an element of charm to the cheesiness, with a cast of stereotype characters from the explosive mob boss looking to take charge of the company to the stony executive with a secret heart of gold. If one can look past the expletives, the dialogue is pure narmy goodness – over the top but never boring. It is an interesting inverse of the gritty fight scenes which are as real as can be. One gets the sense that it is in the combat where the filmmaker’s true interest lies – the background drama really just there to act as a driver based loosely on real events. There is fun to be had with EFC, which succeeds entirely on the back of electrifying fight sequences where every punch lands. The script and performances are featherweight in comparison, but these scenes (as well as its female-focused plot) just about bring this fight to a decision. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Etwas Nutzlos (Somewhat Useless) film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Gabriel Tauber, Leonie Euler, Matthew Greenaway directed by Eric Liddle. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Etwas Nutzlos (Somewhat Useless) Film Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Apr 3, 2023 Directed by: Eric Liddle Written by: Eric Liddle Starring: Gabriel Tauber, Leonie Euler, Matthew Greenaway Eric Liddle’s Somewhat Useless (or Etwas Nutzlos in its native German) is a short, experimental film made entirely of still imagery stitched together to make a seamless symbolic story. Despite the unconventional nature of its production, this film feels alive and energetic. In an overbearing and cold Berlin, Stefan (Gabriel Tauber) experiences a severe case of depression and imposter syndrome as his relationship with his girlfriend (Leonie Euler) collapses in front of his eyes. He begins to question his very identity as a sudden and overwhelming sense of change engulfs his life. Somewhat Useless is an emotive and surreal short that is as much of an experience as it is a film. Touching on complex and difficult emotive spaces, this 6-minute feature will reach deep into the state of the viewer to extract their own experiences that are alike those of protagonist Stefan – whose strange journey through his own psyche will be familiar to anyone who has felt lost or unsure of their purpose or position in life. The shattering and splitting of his identity into a totally different person (played here by Matthew Greenaway) is executed brilliantly and never feels like a stale trope as such storytelling techniques often do. The film’s final scene and line land are a wonderful and earned conclusion of this exploration. The film is essentially told in real-life stop-motion, with still images painstakingly assembled to make a coherent plot. The editing is so seamless, unaware audiences will likely think traditional shooting forms the basis of the film for the most part. The minimal jumpiness seen throughout lends itself to enhancing the storytelling by emphasising a sense of disconnect and otherworldliness to Stefan’s interpretation of the world. Eric Liddle even plays with the technique as a photograph taken of Stefan becomes a key storytelling device within the world itself – and the implications that someone’s state in a still image has for the plot. Liddle uses the Berlin setting itself to map the complex journey Stefan undergoes, with artistic framing of everything from park gaslights to the city’s metro system to further demonstrate the film’s inventive nature. Gabriel Tauber captures Stefan’s torn nature brilliantly – feeling both at home and lost in his surroundings. Tauber lounges in the most European of fashions around the city streets, yet questions his every move as he navigates a confusing time in his life. Somewhat Useless is not just an artistic accomplishment, but also a poignant emotional journey that is empathetic, unnerving and intelligent. It’s depth and layers are worth exploring again and again, and will be sure to be debated by viewers as it taps into intimate personal experiences. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film, World Cinema, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Ronnie California: The King of Artesia film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Anand Mahalingam, Nirvan Patnaik, Shalini Bathina directed by Adi Kalidindi. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Ronnie California: The King of Artesia Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Dec 16, 2024 Directed by: Adi Kalidindi Written by: Adi Kalidindi Starring: Anand Mahalingam, Nirvan Patnaik, Shalini Bathina The self-contradicting facets of the immigrant experience are brilliantly dissected by Adi Kalidindi in Ronnie California: The King of Artesia, an imaginative and fun short film featuring an Indian man living in 90s America who tries to fit in in with his new country by taking up a classic pastime – organising an illegal gambling ring. The titular Ronnie California (Anand Mahalingam), following successful application for a name-change, looks to cement his place in America by running an illegal gambling ring out the back of his failing Saree shop. With interest on the rise, he becomes more and more extravagant with his dealings, and takes on the persona of a shady 70s car salesman. But his recklessness isolates his friends, who sense the law closing in. With impressive production, a canny and critical eye and plenty of laughs, Ronnie California is an accomplished and enjoyable short. It examines the immigrant experience using its title character, who wants nothing more than to fit in. And make lots of money. The use of ‘Ronnie’ to draw attention to discrimination and othering that Indians face in the United States is at the heart of the film. But where it shines comedically is in its devotion in never white-washing Ronnie’s shady qualities as a person. It’s hard to tell where his desire for acceptance ends and his willingness to bend the law for his own aims begins. There is a sympathy for the character in the film, but his sliminess and disregard for friends like Sidd (Nirvan Patnaik) adds real layers. Ronnie’s slow breakdown culminates in the law closing in and a moral choice which is one of the film’s most chaotic, dramatic and funny moments. The build-up of the character and his place in the ‘American Dream’ consistently balances drama and comedy, ensuring to highlight the faceless bureaucracy that crushes everyday Americans under its feet as a force that breaks down communities as well. Anand Mahalingham shines in the lead role. His performance as Ronnie – a man desperately trying to embody a mobster persona, is tragically hilarious. His Indian roots are never that far from the surface, and become more and more prominent as he gets more and more desperate. Nirvan Patnaik’s Sidd is more of a moral centre in the film – his quote about being a servant in both societies cuts deep to the core of Ronnie’s futile scheme. There’s a ton of depth to Ronnie California, beyond some great laughs and performances. The deconstruction of societal pressure on immigrants and what we expect for them to fit in is quietly profound throughout the short plot – not least in the tragi-comic choice the protagonist makes for his new name. Ronnie California might not be authentic, but his story definitely is. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Short Film, Digital / DVD Release, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Adieu Godard film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Choudhury Bikash Das, Sudhasri Madhusmita, Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, Abhishek Giri directed by Amartya Bhattacharyya. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Adieu Godard Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Oct 23, 2021 Directed by: Amartya Bhattacharyya Written by: Amartya Bhattacharyya Starring: Choudhury Bikash Das, Sudhasri Madhusmita, Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, Abhishek Giri In a small village in India, an elderly man becomes obsessed with the French-Swiss filmmaker Jean Luc-Godard and decides to organise a film festival in his honour. Ananda (Bikash) is an old, married man and has a daughter named Shilpa (Madhusmita). Ananda constantly buys pornographic films and watches them at his home with his friends. One day, instead of a sex film, he accidentally ends up with a movie by Godard. His friends dislike it, however Ananda finds himself being mesmerised by what he sees and becomes a different person. He convinces his friends to help him bring together a festival that will be dedicated to Godard, in the hope that the experience will make the narrow-minded villagers more open-minded. This dark comedy drama was filmed in Odisha, India and pays tribute to the acclaimed filmmaker. The movie has a narrative that keeps cutting between the past and the present. The past consists of Ananda's efforts to make the festival a reality. The present concentrates on Shilpa as she tells the story about her father to her filmmaker boyfriend Pablo (Giri). Shilpa is also the narrator. It is the preparation for the festival that is the highlight of the film, with Ananda and his friends enthusiastically working towards their goal. The story is interesting to follow and Bikash is great in his portrayal of an awkward person who develops a new passion and wishes to share it with others. Madhusmita is convincing in her role as Ananda's intelligent daughter. It should be mentioned that the film includes profanity and sexual content and, therefore, is not for sensitive viewers. The film utilises colour as well as black-and-white cinematography. The scenes that take place in the present are in colour and the ones that take place in the past are almost entirely in black-and-white. As director, Bhattacharyya creates wonderful establishing shots. There is effective use of slow motion and Kisaloy Roy makes a good contribution with the music. This feature is an intriguing achievement. It explores the joys of discovering something new and having a dream to pursue. It also suggests that sometimes not everyone has the same opinion. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Grimmfest is one of the UK's leading festivals of horror, sci-fi, fantasy & cult cinema, taking place every year in Manchester. This truly independent genre film festival is dedicated to sharing the best new short and feature films from both emerging and established filmmakers, hosting a wealth of World, European, UK and Northern premieres across the 4-day event. Previous Grimmfest highlights range from international successes What We Do in the Shadows, The Babadook, Train to Busan, The Woman and American Mary, to those made closer to home such as Howl, Grabbers, Before Dawn, Let Us Prey and Colin. Over the years they've welcomed a vast number of guests, including horror mainstays Robin Hardy (The Wicker Man), Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead, From Beyond), Brian Yuzna (Re-Animator, From Beyond) and Italian soundtrack maestros Goblin, alongside Britain's own Ross Noble (Stitches), Alice Lowe (Sightseers, Prevenge) and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones, Dog Soldiers). The 2017 edition attracted thousands of genre film fans, press and industry guests to the city, with highlights including World Premieres of gritty Manchester-set horror film Habit and stunning animated documentary Borley Rectory, featuring the voice talents of Reece Shearsmith, Nicholas Vince and Julian Sands. Ted Geoghegan's Mohawk and Rob Grant's Fake Blood had their first European outings, alongside UK premieres of the WW1-set Trench 11, Fantasia favourite Poor Agnes and Russian supernatural thriller The Bride. The Francesca Eastwood-starring M.F.A., Sitges-selected Rabbit and festival favourite Dave Made a Maze also had their first UK screenings at the festival. Northern Premieres included Better Watch Out, Replace, Game of Death, Killing Ground, Still/Born, 68 Kill, Ruin Me, Double Date, Freehold (Two Pigeons), Leatherface and Attack of the Adult Babies. 2017 Q&As and special guests included filmmakers and stars from Habit, Borley Rectory, Fake Blood, Trench 11, Double Date and Attack of the Adult Babies. The Festival's 9th edition proved once again that Grimmfest is one of the most welcoming genre film festivals in the world. "In all respects I can honestly say 'Grimmfest did me proud'! I've attended film premieres before but I've never felt such a warm atmosphere or watched cast and crew members be so well looked after, myself included" - Sara Dee (Actress - Borley Rectory) "We were honoured to have our UK premiere at Grimmfest. They did a great job of promoting the film, and their efforts led to a slew of great press; their PR people are really on top of it and we are forever grateful. It really helped establish an audience for our movie in the UK" - Bill Watterson (Director - Dave Made a Maze) "All the films looked and sounded amazing. Talking with the fans and filmmakers at the fest was a blast. I loved everything about Grimmfest. I very much look forward to screening another film there" - Matt Stuertz (Director - Tonight She Comes) Grimmfest Film Festival Grimmfest is one of the UK's leading festivals of horror, sci-fi, fantasy & cult cinema, taking place every year in Manchester. This truly independent genre film festival is dedicated to sharing the best new short and feature films from both emerging and established filmmakers, hosting a wealth of World, European, UK and Northern premieres across the 4-day event. Previous Grimmfest highlights range from international successes What We Do in the Shadows, The Babadook, Train to Busan, The Woman and American Mary, to those made closer to home such as Howl, Grabbers, Before Dawn, Let Us Prey and Colin. Over the years they've welcomed a vast number of guests, including horror mainstays Robin Hardy (The Wicker Man), Ken Foree (Dawn of the Dead, From Beyond), Brian Yuzna (Re-Animator, From Beyond) and Italian soundtrack maestros Goblin, alongside Britain's own Ross Noble (Stitches), Alice Lowe (Sightseers, Prevenge) and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones, Dog Soldiers). The 2017 edition attracted thousands of genre film fans, press and industry guests to the city, with highlights including World Premieres of gritty Manchester-set horror film Habit and stunning animated documentary Borley Rectory, featuring the voice talents of Reece Shearsmith, Nicholas Vince and Julian Sands. Ted Geoghegan's Mohawk and Rob Grant's Fake Blood had their first European outings, alongside UK premieres of the WW1-set Trench 11, Fantasia favourite Poor Agnes and Russian supernatural thriller The Bride. The Francesca Eastwood-starring M.F.A., Sitges-selected Rabbit and festival favourite Dave Made a Maze also had their first UK screenings at the festival. Northern Premieres included Better Watch Out, Replace, Game of Death, Killing Ground, Still/Born, 68 Kill, Ruin Me, Double Date, Freehold (Two Pigeons), Leatherface and Attack of the Adult Babies. 2017 Q&As and special guests included filmmakers and stars from Habit, Borley Rectory, Fake Blood, Trench 11, Double Date and Attack of the Adult Babies. The Festival's 9th edition proved once again that Grimmfest is one of the most welcoming genre film festivals in the world. "In all respects I can honestly say 'Grimmfest did me proud'! I've attended film premieres before but I've never felt such a warm atmosphere or watched cast and crew members be so well looked after, myself included" - Sara Dee (Actress - Borley Rectory) "We were honoured to have our UK premiere at Grimmfest. They did a great job of promoting the film, and their efforts led to a slew of great press; their PR people are really on top of it and we are forever grateful. It really helped establish an audience for our movie in the UK" - Bill Watterson (Director - Dave Made a Maze) "All the films looked and sounded amazing. Talking with the fans and filmmakers at the fest was a blast. I loved everything about Grimmfest. I very much look forward to screening another film there" - Matt Stuertz (Director - Tonight She Comes) SEE MORE FILM FESTIVALS

Optics film review by UK film critic Amber Jackson. Starring Mark McDermott, Isabelle McDermott, Olivia McDermott directed by Mark McDermott. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Optics Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Amber Jackson | Posted on: Jan 7, 2022 Directed by: Mark McDermott Written by: Mark McDermott Starring: Mark McDermott, Isabelle McDermott, Olivia McDermott This father and daughter collaboration is by no means a cringy awkward viewing experience as the audience are taken on a journey that oozes of realism but also has a whimsy of fantastical joy to it. Optics is part of Mark McDermott’s break back into feature-length filmmaking situating Cole, a paranoid father who is beginning to fear the outdoor world, and his two daughters Carly and Chloe who discover that Carly’s camera has come to life. Whilst the plot sounds obscure, the backdrop of a COVID-19 world in the future falling apart, combined with two girls’ intense appetite for adventure, cements this film as a fun watch that contains a heartfelt message at its core. It states on the McDermott’s website, MIOMotion , that this film is “character driven,” which is an accurate summary. Mark McDermott plays a man in turmoil as he tries to raise his daughters in a seemingly not-too-far in the future world ravaged by the continuing pandemic, and he has real concern for his girls whilst trying to mask his own grief and despair. Character portrayal is excellently done, with McDermott’s exploration of the fatherly psyche intriguing to watch as a society wrought by ‘covid collapse’ is revealed. Showing what could happen to individuals if this global madness continues is not only forward-thinking, but fresh to watch. These qualities enable Optics to be intense from the offset, which is matched with Isabelle and Olivia McDermott portraying two sisters in isolation. Their equal parts boredom and anxiety allow them to seek adventure through a camera coming alive, allowing the feature to brilliantly encapsulate a UK society – both outside and in the home – during a period of post-lockdown and the potential long-lasting anxieties for young people. The dynamic between the two sisters who annoy each other, but who come together when it matters, feels real and contrasts well with Carly feeling tentative and Chloe craving to go outside. The McDermott sisters are both talented in conveying subtle and powerful emotions that become more heightened during a pandemic. When the camera is revealed to have a mind of its own, the filming style becomes more thrilling. Jarring shot angles and cleverly worked shots both from and of the camera in question make this film adopt more of a ‘thriller’ stance as the camera forces Carly and Chloe to confront the outside world. With fun side characters, such as ‘Geek boy’ and ‘Doctor Mechanical,’ the film feels less isolated. Ultimately, without giving too much away, the concept of making the camera a living thing is a very unique way of making a feature film and brings every aspect of the story together well. Although the film has a bit of a slow build, with its pacing slightly off and some scenes too long, the story-line remains engaging throughout. This, with a lack of score is foreboding and creates a powerful isolating atmosphere that is again realistic. What McDermott has achieved with a less than £1k budget and in the space of a few months is outstanding. Here is a fun, yet gritty, film with a loving family at its heart and an offering of hope for a younger generation. And there is no denying that Cole’s “you can’t scare me I have two daughters” t-shirt is absolutely fantastic. Mark McDermott is planning to submit Optics into UK and international film festivals. He is also currently writing a new project and it will be exciting to see what is coming up next. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Amber Jackson Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Choco Lava Memories film review by UK film critic James Learoyd. Starring Sonali Pandey, Samaiyhh Jeit, Vijay Shukla directed by Saurabh Arora. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Choco Lava Memories Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: James Learoyd | Posted on: May 8, 2025 Directed by: Saurabh Arora Written by: Saurabh Arora Starring: Sonali Pandey, Samaiyhh Jeit, Vijay Shukla Choco Lava Memories is a strong, disturbing fifteen-minute tale of depression and trauma. Pretty dour stuff, and the look, tone and performances of this short only add to the uncontrollable feeling of misery our protagonist is succumbing to in the story. We follow a woman who is haunted by bizarre memories of her grandmother’s last moments. These abrasive yet hallucinatory images consist of the grandmother – lit in a murky blue light – presenting our dazed protagonist with a cake; then, something seemingly terrible takes place, although the filmmakers play their hand close to the chest – it's all sound and suggestion. Meanwhile, in the present, our well-acted main character struggles to maintain her life. She disconnects with, or is uncared for, by her boyfriend and father, and she quits her job. She spirals into an all-consuming slump, and for a viewer it’s difficult to witness (to the film’s credit). If there’s a dysfunction to the narrative and its themes, however, it could very well be argued that the hints at suicide as the horrific impending event – in the case of both the grandmother and the granddaughter – could leave the viewer feeling slightly uncomfortable, and not in the ‘horror’, ‘scare-factor’ way it’s intended. It’s difficult to understand what the filmmakers wish to say through this device (though arguably it’s the fact that one can label it a ‘device’ which is the problem). But if there’s one definite strength to this aspect of the piece, it’s the horrifying concept of a cyclical form; repeating the past, no matter what the action or event is. And in the script’s defence, this film is very much about mental illness, and how depression can result in feeling closed off from the people you might need at your worst moment. The build-up is tangible, atmospheric, and intelligent; and while the disturbing final reveal may divide audiences in terms of taste (and a willingness to meet the film on its own, rather unpleasant, terms), the cinematic power can still be found in the disruptive mood and tight pacing. What is undeniable about this movie is that we feel connected to our psychologically vulnerable protagonist. A couple different formal and aesthetic decisions make this possible: the first is that the fragmentary presentation of memory messes with the psyche of not only the character but of the audience as well. It also provides an additional layer to the story; the inner and outer life as a single fractured, fluctuating perception. The second is that the desaturated colour palette, but simultaneously vivid, digitally sharpened detail, accurately captures the perspective of an individual suffering with depression – at least in abstract terms. I concede that when one is depressed in reality, the world does not look like a digital image; however, the world does become hyperrealist in such a way that both overwhelms the senses and numbs the soul. This is what Choco Lava Memories captures perfectly, even though it was not shot on a super high-quality camera. The director understands the production limitations and allows these limitations to inform a perceptive visual style. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic James Learoyd Short Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >