Eco-Hack! film review by UK film critic Chris Buick. Starring Tim Shields, Frank Guercio, Dr. Kristin Berry, Sara Hanner directed by Brett Marty, Josh Izenberg. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Eco-Hack! Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Chris Buick | Posted on: Oct 2, 2023 Directed by: Brett Marty, Josh Izenberg Written by: Brett Marty, Josh Izenberg Starring: Tim Shields, Frank Guercio, Dr. Kristin Berry, Sara Hanner Tim Shields, a conservation biologist based in the Mojave desert in California, loves reptiles, tortoises perhaps most of all. The Mojave was once home to an abundant population of these shelled creatures but, as is becoming a familiar theme these days, these numbers have dwindled dramatically in recent years. Unwilling to “no longer be passive and simply watch the end of the show”, Eco-Hack showcases Shields’ ingenious and creative ways to step in and try and help. How, you might ask. Well, while there are some causes that are difficult for Shields to directly challenge such as climate change and increasing human population, there is one threat that Shields feels he can do something about; ravens. Because if the viewer didn’t know before, they will soon learn from co-directors Joshua Izenberg and Brett Marty’s short but compelling documentary that besides being perhaps the smartest of all birds, ravens present a very real threat to tortoises, especially those who have yet to reach an age where they can protect themselves, and Shields is determined to tip the scales the other way. Eco-Hack is not only a film that looks to serve as an inspiration for others to act, or at the very least start thinking, but also a dedication to those already looking to make a difference. At the centre of this uniquely fascinating documentary of one man’s mission to make a difference is a well-crafted and balanced film championing the tireless efforts of its subject. Thankfully, just to be clear, Shields’ methods only ever mean to deter and never harm, Shields himself a believer that more can be learned from these birds by discouragement and observation rather than complete removal. Complete with his own guy-in-the-chair Frank who outfits him with everything from spray-traps loaded into super-realistic looking, 3D printed fake tortoises to high-powered lasers used to disperse large flocks and countless other gadgets, Tim’s mission is one of endless ingenuity and determination, and Eco-Hack showcases that very well. Izenberg and Marty also do well to make sure their film doesn’t feel one-note, neither presenting such a topic as mere doom-and-gloom or as a completely light-hearted affair, but rather finding just the right balance of the in-between. A celebration of nature, yet also a reminder of its fragility, managing to hit home the heart-breaking numbers forcing the hands of people like Shields to finally step in rather than be simple observers. Eco-Hack does take its subject matter seriously but allows the audience the space to smile through it as well. And with Shields as its very likeable and inspiring subject, the film does what it should in showcasing him and his work front and centre. Short yes, but nothing short of an inspiring film of ingenuity, tenacity and belief in making a difference. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Chris Buick Short Film, Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Leviticus film review by UK film critic Kieran Freemantle. Starring Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Jeremy Blewitt, Mia Wasikowska directed by Adrian Chiarella. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Leviticus Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Kieran Freemantle | Posted on: Aug 20, 2026 Directed by: Adrian Chiarella Written by: Adrian Chiarella Starring: Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Jeremy Blewitt, Mia Wasikowska Australia has become a hub for horror films. Films like The Babadook, Talk to Me, Bring Her Back and Dangerous Animals have come from the land down under. Naim (Joe Bird) has moved to an industrial town in Victoria with his mother (Mia Wasikowska). He ends up in a relationship with another boy in school, Ryan (Stacy Clausen), even though they are members of an evangelical Christian church. When Naim sees Ryan with another boy, Hunter (Jeremy Blewitt), he outs them in revenge. The pair are forced to undergo a ritual that causes them to see a malicious entity. Leviticus can be described in one sentence: the LGBT version of It Follows. Both films were about an entity that only the victim can see, which causes fear and death. There’s no running from it. There have been quite a few horror films that have used this premise recently, such as the Smile movies, It Lives Inside, Whistle, and Passenger. It Follows’ entity was sexually transmitted, and when it was transferred from one person to another, it was shown to be desperate yet malicious by the infected. In Leviticus , the entity was an extreme form of gay conversion therapy. Leviticus was about the contrast between Naim and Ryan’s love and the church's obsessive nature. These were scenes of the church being rigid and teenagers not wanting to be there. Ryan and Hunter made light of the cleansing ritual and tried hard not to snicker until it turned more sinister. The film opened with Naim and Ryan encountering a snake, which had religious connotations since a serpent was responsible for the first sin, and the pair gave in to their urges after they saw it. The entity was the physical threat; the real villain was the Church and the community. Naim’s mother was despicable because of her cold, cruel actions. The entity took the form of the person they loved. It turned love into fear, and afflicted people don’t know if they were speaking to a human or a being trying to kill them. The only safety was staying in crowded places. There was impact when Naim saw Ryan being haunted by the entity. There’s a risk that an invisible entity could look silly; It Lives Inside was an example of this, but Leviticus showed the physical impact. It was a bit more threatening. The director, Adrian Chiarella, and his editor knew what to show and what not to show. This was done when the entity attacked one of the boys in school. The aftermath was horrific, and the actual attack was left to the audience’s imagination. Nicholas Hope as the Deliverance Healer was a sinister presence because he was in a position of power and had mystical powers. Leviticus was only 88 minutes long, but it was a slow burn. This was felt at the beginning when Naim and Ryan started their relationship. The film was just as focused on their relationship as well as the threat. However, this slow-burn approach made Leviticus feel longer than it really was. Bird and Clausen were great in their roles and made the relationship feel organic. The film avoided making the characters into gay stereotypes: Ryan was a young Aussie bloke who was sporty and used colourful language, whilst Naim was a quieter fella. Both characters were flawed because Ryan was a bit rough and Naim did something unforgivable. Naim could challenge Bear in Obsession for committing an unforgivable action by a horror ‘protagonist.’ Leviticus was admirable for being a thematic horror film, and it got its message across in an effective manner. It’s not as strong as some of the other recent Australian horror flicks, but it was a solid horror film and an LGBTQ story that had lots of ideas. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Kieran Freemantle Theatrical Release, Sports Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Brother Troll film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Bui Dam, Nicolaj Falck directed by Gudmund Helmsdal . HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Brother Troll Film Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Mar 11, 2022 Directed by: Gudmund Helmsdal Written by: Gudmund Helmsdal, Rakel Helmsdal, Torfinnur Jakupsson Starring: Bui Dam, Nicolaj Falck You probably don’t associate the Faroe Islands with cinema. In fact, the only films you’ve probably heard of from the Archipelago are… well… no sorry, I’ve got nothing. Thankfully, director Gudmund Helmsdal is here to change that with Brother Troll, an eccentric short historical drama/comedy with a distinctive island feel. Jakup (Bui Dam) and Pætur (Nicolaj Falck) are brothers living in the rugged Faroe Island countryside sometime in the 19thcentury. Still mourning the loss of their older brother, the pair persevere in the cold and inhospitable territory. But when Pætur’s dogmatic religious beliefs lead to him developing a sense of impending dread, an unexpected tragedy strikes. There is an indefinable quality to Brother Troll that makes it as interesting as it is entertaining. The film features a typically Scandinavian-style mixture of intense and harrowing dramatics alongside genuinely hilarious dark comedy that intertwine seamlessly and fluently to tell its story. The similar coupling of supernatural elements and brutalist realism turn the story into something of a fable, that speaks to the audience’s fears of the unknown as well as the all-too-familiar. When considered with the odd-coupling of the brothers, whose personalities could not be much more contradictory, the film is a fine exercise in finding a balance of opposites. The two leads give excellent performances. Nicolaj Falck’s Pætur lives and breathes religious dogma, and his stoicism is an evident barrier for his bond with his easy-going brother. Bui Dam’s charismatic turn as Jakup is the source of much of the film’s comedy, and he brilliantly conveys a large and domineering presence on-screen. Whilst the rift between the pair is portrayed well in the film’s earlier scenes, the devastation and grief so brilliantly demonstrated by Falck’s Pætur encapsulates the familiar terms that so many brothers are aware of – that despite differences, family ties always emerge, even if they do not solve every problem. The historic past of the Faroe Islands is impressively realised, with the ruthless, rocky landscape of the islands used to its fullest potential. The scenery matches that of similar productions which enjoy considerably larger budgets such as Vikings, or even The Last Jedi, thanks to Helmsdal’s scene framing and the outstanding cinematography of Rogvi Rasmussen. The only hit to the film’s authenticity is the costumes, which appear far too clean and fresh for a pair of weathered and roughshod island-dwellers. For both its engrossing examination of brotherhood, and its darkly-comic, fable-like story, Brother Troll is a roaringly successful enigmatic short film. Viewers will laugh, cry, smile and cringe their way through its unpredictable and shocking plot, and immerse in the stunning landscape in which the story is set and presented. You’ll remember this film from the Faroe Islands – that is for sure. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film, World Cinema, Film Festival < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Matcha And Vanilla film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Qyoko Kudo, Tomoko Hayakawa directed by Hamish Downie. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Matcha And Vanilla Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Jul 27, 2022 Directed by: Hamish Downie Written by: Hamish Downie Starring: Qyoko Kudo, Tomoko Hayakawa For those of us interested in following the happenings of Bake Off: The Professionals there's no need to explain what matcha is, other than to say that it is one of patisserie queen, Cherish Finden's favourite flavours to use in dessert making, as long as the flavour is finely balanced and not too much of it is used. For everyone else it's probably best to say that matcha is a green, ground powder made from specially grown tea leaves, which has a slightly bitter, earthy taste to it. What writer/director Hamish Downie is doing, pairing Matcha And Vanilla in his new feature's title, is describing the bittersweet nature of life, which gives with one hand and takes away with the other, while also describing in basic terms the personality of his two lead characters. Ai (Kudo) is quiet and timid and doesn't share much about herself with others. She likes the simple life and takes pleasure in things being comfortable and easy. Yuki (Hayakawa), by contrast, likes to stand out. She wears funky glasses and dyes her hair. She likes to take risks and seeks excitement through experience. Their tastes may be different, but in a delicately balanced way they complement each other to create something new – in this case their blossoming relationship. Ten years later and Ai and Yuki are settled down together in an Osaka apartment, happy in themselves and in each other, but still keeping their relationship a secret from the outside world. Their love for each other is apparent, and is evidenced in full by plenty of softcore scenes with skin on skin, which feel like they're in soft focus even if they're not. Downie takes his time to pile on the 'sweet' scenes at the beginning, making sure the audience understands the depth of love between the two women, as soon enough the 'bitter' parts of life come crashing in. Both women suffer tragedy which they can't initially communicate with one another, both deciding to lie about their situation to their partner as they try to protect them from a grief too terrible to bear. Ai has lost her job and has been trying for weeks to get a new one to no avail. Yuki, however, has been given a cancer diagnosis which knocks her for six when she finds out she only has a few months left to live. The rest of the film then deals with the fallout of this trauma and how desperately alone the two women find themselves in the face of traditional, conservative Japan. What is most striking about Matcha And Vanilla is of course the relationship between the two main characters. Ai and Yuki are both obviously positive and dutiful and live without harming anyone, yet are forced to live as 'friends' or 'sisters' so that no-one starts asking uncomfortable questions or 'outs' them to the rest of the community. Both lead actresses do an exceptional job of portraying their character, delivering real, unvarnished, believable and natural performances throughout some really challenging scenes. This is the film's real strength and luckily, as the main actresses are on screen for pretty much every frame, this carries the film, allowing the audience to believe in the scenario and the relationship to the end. Unfortunately though, a lot of the rest of the film isn't stitched together very well. There are plenty of nice shots from DoP/Producer Paul Leeming, and Downie's direction seems solid, if not really reaching for more, but in the end it's the technical aspects which let the film down. There's some quite patchy sound editing going on, with some parts so hard to hear that it was just as well there were subtitles on the screen. The video editing somewhat suffers the same fate with some scenes ending quite abruptly and some that seem shoehorned in without much cause. Then there's the music, arranged by Deron Reynolds, who also co-wrote most of the original songs played on the soundtrack. These schmalzy, warbling oddities almost seem like a pastiche of other more famous songs which they sound similar to, and detract and distract from what's happening on screen. There is a real disconnect between the songs and the visuals from which the film only suffers. All in all, Matcha And Vanilla survives as a worthwhile film due to its important, relevant story and the incredible ability of its two main leads. It is touching and tragic in equal measure and really strives to bring home the message of what it's like for members of the LGBTQ+ community in what is still one of the most rigid societies on the planet. Despite its faults Matcha And Vanilla has plenty to offer the audience and makes real a difficult situation which still only ever gets hidden behind closed doors. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Hemingway Indie Feature Film, World Cinema, LGBTQ+ < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Sing 2 film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson directed by Garth Jennings. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Sing 2 Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 Directed by: Garth Jennings Written by: Garth Jennings Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson Are you ever absolutely slain by the voice talent in a cartoon? I find this especially true of a middling animation like Sing , or more to the point, writer/director Garth Jennings’s sequel, Sing 2. Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Edgerton, Bono, Nick Kroll, Bobby Cannavale, Pharrell Williams, Halsey, Letitia Wright, Eric Andre and Chelsea Paretti round out the set of vocal stylists bringing this animated animal talent show to the big screen. Was there any budget left for animators? Well, sure. This is an Illumination animation—the good people behind the Minions and all that—and its visual style is bright, colorful and well suited to the animal antics afoot. What antics, you ask? Well, big dreamer Buster Moon (a koala voiced by McConaughey) wants to take his enormously popular smalltown song and dance troupe to the big time! But are they ready? Will the man in charge of their destiny (a nasty wolf named Jimmy Crystal voiced by Cannavale) choose to murder Buster? And can they find the famous singer Clay Calloway (Bono) in time for the big show? Who’s to say? What they won’t do is sing originals. Unlike your typical Disney musical, Sing 2 puts recognizable pop songs into characters’ mouths, so it plays a bit like one of those TV talent shows, except less annoying. Halsey is memorable as spoiled Porsha, and Jennings himself shines voicing the character of theater assistant Miss Crawly. Still, there’s not a lot new to see here—I think we’re all familiar with “the show must go on” stories. There’s even less new to hear. Characters are likable enough (aside from that wolf), and very solid lessons are learned and themes encouraged. Plus, some fun song choices keep scenes lively and it is very hard to go wrong with this talent pool. Not one memorable thing happens. Not one. But Sing 2 is light-hearted, good-natured fun while it lasts. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release, Animation < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Ogress film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring Tim Cullingworth-Hudson, Jake Francis, Meg Matthews directed by Jon Kent. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Ogress Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Jul 27, 2022 Directed by: Jon Kent Written by: Jon Kent Starring: Tim Cullingworth-Hudson, Jake Francis, Meg Matthews Everybody’s heard of Jack the Ripper - the infamous case of a string of murders in Victorian London, where the perpetrator was never found. Perhaps that’s the reason everyone knows about Jack the Ripper, and nobody knows about Amelia Dyer - a far more prolific murderer, of children no less, during the same period. Dyer was dubbed the ‘Ogress of Reading’, and it’s her moniker which has inspired the title of Jon Kent’s short film ‘The Ogress’, as that terrible past comes back to haunt the present day. No, this isn’t a ghost story, not really, but rather a terrifying flick about serial killers, mingled with a little bit of mythical cult horror. Over a hundred years on from the Amelia Dyer case, detective John Hayes (Jake Francis) is struggling with a number of missing children cases, however, there’s an anomaly in the pack - a woman, Anya (Meg Matthews) has recently disappeared. All the signs point towards it being committed by the same perpetrator, but Hayes can’t quite piece together the pieces. Meanwhile, he’s faced by Anya’s desperately concerned partner David (Tim Cullingworth-Hudson), who is urgently seeking answers for Anya’s disappearance. ‘The Ogress’ is, to put it plainly, a terrifying watch, as the slow build-up of suspense leads to an altogether unexpected conclusion, even though on the way we can see all the evils which our characters can’t. Take a seemingly friendly nun, Sister Claire (Corinne Strickett) - she seems generous and empathetic to David and Anya, but to us she’s perhaps a little too friendly, and so her role in Anya’s disappearance comes as no surprise. Director Jon Kent builds up the suspenseful atmosphere with craft and guile, throwing us into the situation at just the right pace, so that the build-up never feels too long, and we never feel out of our depth. He also makes the dark, foreboding atmosphere look creepy - as trees and ornaments on the wall jump out at us as objects of possible harm. It’s a really excellent directorial turn, and although the writing occasionally lets him down in the dialogue, it is nonetheless a terrific piece by an up-and-coming filmmaker. The performances grow as the film progresses, with Tim Cullingworth-Hudson immediately standing out as the dishevelled David, just looking for answers about his partner's whereabouts. He is a sturdy presence and understands that though the dramatic focus may be on Detective Hayes and Anya, he is the one with the most responsibility to uphold the quality of the performances. Jake Francis and Meg Matthews are also very solid in their performances and sell their characters believably - each working well with Cullingworth-Hudson, though in different scenes. ‘The Ogress’ is a terrifyingly effective example of a short-horror film done right. Mixing true crime with serial killers and the supernatural to create a film which doesn’t rely on jump-scares, but rather on the atmosphere it creates. It’s also a film with a group of characters, and a story, which deserves to be given feature-length treatment and could feasibly work in that format. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Infinity film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Jon Gutierrez, Ione Brown, Mo Naveed directed by Greg Francis. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Infinity Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Apr 27, 2023 Directed by: Greg Francis Written by: Martin Kusimo Starring: Jon Gutierrez, Ione Brown, Mo Naveed A man helps a stranger carry her shopping to her home. He soon realises that he shouldn't had done that. Steven (Gutierrez) is walking down a road, chatting with his friend over the phone. Suddenly, a woman (Brown) calls out to him, asking him to carry her shopping bags to her residence for her, as they are too heavy. Steven does so and once they are inside her property, she politely insists that he accepts a cup of tea. After a lot of persuading, especially from an intimidating man (Naveed), Steven reluctantly drinks the tea. The drink appears to have something harmful inside and he is now under the strange woman's control. This is a spooky and sinister story that follows the do-not-talk-to-strangers concept. After a beginning that feels normal, with Steven cheerfully talking on his phone, things get weird with the appearance of a runner who is holding a package and behaves like a robot. Then the unlucky hero stumbles upon the woman, who initially seems friendly and harmless and it is when they are in her home that things begin to turn bad, with the level of dread rising and rising from there, reaching a highpoint when what the peculiar woman is up to. The feelings of hopelessness and fear are the strongest ones here, as Steven finds himself trapped in an extraordinary situation and unable to resist. Interestingly, this short horror film appears to have been influenced by the 2017 psychological horror movie Get Out , as there are similarities between those two. Like the feature, there are people who are behaving oddly, like they are insane or under the influence of something. The plot also involves a man entering a new location, where something does not seem quite right and he becomes a prisoner, at the mercy of his captor. Furthermore, a cup of tea plays a significant role in both stories. The characters are intriguing and Brown is the one who stands out the most as a deceiving woman who turns out to be a sort of witch, with all sorts of herbs in her kitchen. The big man who seems to live with her behaves awkwardly, much like the runner. There are some point-of-view shots that are out of focus, effectively placing the viewer in Steven's situation. There are creative lighting techniques, some great sound effects and the ominous music by Fionn Lucas definitely contributes in developing a sinister atmosphere. This is a story about an unfortunate guy being lured into a trap. The dread and suspense are what the audience will probably feel the most and once the film ends, they will most likely think twice before entering a stranger's home. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Piggy film review by UK film critic Hope Maden. Starring Laura Galan, Carmen Machi, Irene Ferreiro directed by Carlota Pereda. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Piggy Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Oct 4, 2022 Directed by: Carlota Pereda Written by: Carlota Pereda Starring: Laura Galan, Carmen Machi, Irene Ferreiro Mean girls are a fixture in cinema, from Mean Girls to Carrie , Heathers to Jawbreaker to Napoleon Dynamite and countless others. Why is that? It’s because we like to see mean girls taken down. Writer/director Carlota Pereda wants to challenge that base instinct. But first, she is going to make you hate Maca (Claudia Salas), Roci (Camille Aguilar) and Claudia (Irene Ferreiro). In one tiny Spanish town, the three girls make Sara’s (Laura Galán, remarkable) life utterly miserable. Like worse than Carrie White’s. And though Sarah’s relationship with her mother (Carmen Machi) is a rose garden compared to the one Carrie shares with her wacko mom, things could be better. Sarah’s mom veers from unobservant to dismissive to defensive. Even when she’s trying to be helpful, that aid comes with a heaping dose of insensitivity. But it’s those pretty, skinny high school girls whose contempt nearly kills Sarah. In a scene that’s difficult to forget, cruelty blossoms into something brutal and horrifying as Sarah tries to take advantage of a nearly empty swimming pool. Traumatized by the afternoon, a dazed Sara makes a choice that she will wrestle with for the balance of the film. Pereda doesn’t present a simple, single reason for what Sarah does. Or, more to the point, does not do. In this scene and all others, the filmmaker complicates every trope, all the one-dimensional victim/hero/villain ideas this genre and others feast on. Redemption doesn’t come easily to anyone. Pereda also seamlessly blends themes and ideas from across the genre, upending expectations but never skimping on brutal, visceral horror. Much of that horror would feel unearned were it not for substantial performances from every member of the cast. But Sarah is the most complicated character by far, and Galán performance is a reckoning. She’s utterly silent for long stretches, Sarah trying to make herself invisible. It’s in those still moments that Galán shines most fiercely. Piggy is a tough watch, there’s no doubt. It’s also a ferocious and stunning piece of horror cinema. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Mandje film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring Michael Oilar, Clarice Lafayette, Paul D. Morgan directed by Cameron Currin, Cody Kristapovich. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Mandje Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: May 30, 2023 Directed by: Cameron Currin, Cody Kristapovich Written by: Josh Hughes Starring: Michael Oilar, Clarice Lafayette, Paul D. Morgan The Brothers Grimm are, perhaps alongside Hans Christian Andersen, the finest, most well-known storytellers of folk and fairy tales to have ever existed. The likes of ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Snow White’ have had numerous iterations (both good and outright dreadful) on both the big and small screen, yet the story of ‘The Fisherman and His Wife’ is far less well known, at least outside of Germany. The old fairytale goes that one day a man, a fisherman, catches fish, which begs to be set free, telling him that he has the ability to grant wishes. When the fisherman’s wife hears of this she tells her husband to go back and ask the fish to grant her wish of a nice house. Naturally, as all good magical fish do, the fish obliges, but, as is often the way with these fairytales, the wife is not satisfied and demands more. The fisherman, reluctantly, keeps on returning to ask the fish, on his wife’s behalf, for ever grander wishes, until one day he asks to become equal with God. This is the straw wish breaks the fish’s back, and, fed up with human greed, he revokes all prior wishes, leaving the fisherman and his wife back where they started, impoverished in a hovel. The message is simple enough - don’t be greedy and be happy with what you’ve got, but its one that still remains pertinent, perhaps even more so, today. ‘Mandje’ picks up this story mid incessant wishing, finding the fisherman (Michael Oilar) and his wife (Clarice Lafayette) at the dinner table being served by their butler. Though the dining room is strangely hovel-esque (who knows, maybe they wanted some home comforts), they have clearly moved up in the world as a result of the fish. Writer Josh Hughes and directors Cameron Currin and Cody Kristapovich clearly outline the fisherman’s reluctance, and inability, to enjoy his newfound prosperity, walking around with a haggard, despairing look to his face, whilst his wife primitively feasts on her meal and indulges herself with wine. This is a darker adaptation of the fairytale (which is already fairly dark for a children’s tale), including illicit affairs and double crossing in keeping with the gothic style which Currin and Kristapovich direct the film in. Black and white, with a slight yellow tint, the film is stylistically on point, at times reminiscent of old silent films such as ‘Haxan’ and ‘Faust’ in its gothic undertones, fairytale roots and use of yellow lighting against a predominantly monochrome composition. It’s a very well-directed film by Currin and Kristapovich, contemplating Josh Hughes’ melodramatic script well to further heighten the gothic style. On the other hand, the two lead actors, Michael Oilar and Clarice Lafayette, lack chemistry, an issue when the film is essentially a two-hander. At no point do they seem a natural fit on screen together, Oilar leaning too far into his sullen demeanour whilst Lafayette overacts to the extent that her performance is wooden, creating a disconnect between the two characters not resulting from the script. Despite this, ‘Mandje’ is a fascinating, well-constructed film that leaves you wanting more of Cameron Currin and Cody Kristapovich’s classic gothic style. Inevitably it’ll disastrously backfire, and I know it’s greedy but next time I catch a magical fish I might ask for more films like ‘Mandje’ Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Nickel Boys film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor directed by RaMell Ross. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Nickel Boys Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Jan 13, 2025 Directed by: RaMell Ross Written by: RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes, Colson Whitehead Starring: Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor You’ve never seen a film quite like RaMell Ross’s Nickel Boys . The filmmaker, with an inspired Jomo Fray behind the camera, delivers a visual poem of tragedy, resilience and American history. Ross, along with Joslyn Barnes, adapts Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, but brings such human and humane treatment that the nonfiction roots cannot be ignored. Whitehead wrote about the Dozier School for Boys—the same American institution that fueled Tananarive Due’s horror novel, Reformatory . But Ross does not mine the institution’s 110-year history of dehumanization, abuse and murder for horror. Instead, he shows us how powerful that evil was by allowing us to see it through the eyes of two best friends. You might find point-of-view filmmaking in bursts in other films—Michael Myers watching his sister through the eye holes of his Halloween costume, for example. But Ross never deviates, never leaves the most intimate and personal perspective of the events unfolding. His camera represents either the view from Elwood’s (Ethan Herisse) own eyes, or his best friend Turner’s (Brandon Wilson). Elwood’s a good kid, smart, kind, and devoted to his grandmother (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) and we see what he sees in lyrical bursts: a party in his childhood, his grandmother praying for him, successes and trials at school, an opportunity to begin college while he’s still in high school, the approach of white police officers, incarceration, the first small piece of kindness offered by a fellow teenage inmate. And then, for the first time, we truly see Elwood because the camera becomes that one friend, Turner. This is not Turner’s first run-in with the law. He’s begrudgingly protective of the innocent Elwood. The perspective shift, the elements of Whitehead’s novel that made it seem too difficult to adapt, becomes Nickel Boys ’ greatest strength. You cannot watch this film and distance yourself from the injustices or from the small joys. This remarkable subjective intimacy is what made Ross’s documentaries so magical and moving—you come away with a personal relationship with the film and its subject because you have born witness as the subject. Wilson, Herisse and Ellis-Taylor guarantee that the style is more than gimmick, bringing their characters so tenderly to life that their story will devastate you. The story of a school that dehumanized and murdered Black young men for over 100 years should do that. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

A Day In The Life film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Yung Simmie, Gypsy Ganja, Jonny Hopkins directed by Nick Gatsby. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS A Day In The Life Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: May 16, 2022 Directed by: Nick Gatsby Written by: N/A Starring: Yung Simmie, Gypsy Ganja, Jonny Hopkins A short documentary about American rapper Yung Simmie. With a duration of just over three minutes, this is quite a brief experience and a creative one. The main idea is to present events that take place during one of the days of the music artist's Denver tour. The film is separated into chapters, each with its own title. It begins with a photo shoot inside a house, where the model is a young woman, who poses in a variety of underwear during the shoot. She has a lot of tattoos, smokes a cigar and poses mostly in front of a television that is turned on. The film then moves on to Yung Simmie, the main subject of the documentary. He is seeing socialising with some people, dealing with cigars and having a laugh, before finally ending up doing a live performance in front of a crowd. From start to finish, a rap song by Yung Simmie is heard, making the viewing feel more like a music video than a documentary, which is not a bad thing as it provides an insight into his rapping skills and fans of rap will most likely enjoy listening to it. The cinematography looks great and there are parts that appear like home footage, with the image looking damaged. The filmmakers make impressive use of split screen techniques and the camera movement is creative. For the easily-offended, it should be mentioned that the lyrics include profanity. This documentary could be viewed as a music video that provides an insight into the world of rap music culture. It does not provide many information regarding Yung Simmie, except that he is a talented rapper. Nevertheless, fans of the singer and rap music should find this an enjoyable experience. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film, Documentary, Music Video < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Film news - The Night House Gets UK Cinema Release Date. Find out more at UK Film Review. The Night House Gets UK Cinema Release Date Chris Olson Friday, June 11, 2021 at 12:52:41 PM GMT+1 THE NIGHT HOUSE WILL BE RELEASED IN UK CINEMAS ON 20 AUGUST THE NIGHT HOUSE follows a widow (Rebecca Hall of THE TOWN) who begins to uncover her recently deceased husband’s disturbing secrets. STARRING REBECCA HALL, SARAH GOLDBERG, EVAN JONIGKEIT, STACY MARTIN AND VONDIE CURTIS-HALL DIRECTED BY DAVID BRUCKNER WRITTEN BY BEN COLLINS AND LUKE PIOTROWSKI PRODUCED BY DAVID S. GOYER, KEITH LEVINE, AND JOHN ZOIS 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. 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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