Bluff film review by UK film critic Amber Jackson. Starring Gurj Gill, Jason Adam, Nisaro Karim directed by Sheikh Shahnawaz. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Bluff Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Amber Jackson | Posted on: Apr 27, 2022 Directed by: Sheikh Shahnawaz Written by: Sheikh Shahnawaz Starring: Gurj Gill, Jason Adam, Nisaro Karim Written and directed by filmmaker Sheikh Shahnawaz, BLUFF is a revealing feature film that exposes the cruel reality of drug addiction in the UK. London police officer, Detective Sergeant Daniel Miller, goes undercover as a heroin addict in a small English town and infiltrates an unsuspecting drug circle to bring down an incognito drug dealer. Whilst trying to keep up pretences, Miller’s assignment pushes him to his ethical limits, as multiple levels of manipulation, deception and taking advantage take hold. Miller must blend in with his surroundings and uncover drug networks in order to alert the police. At the start of the film, the viewer is provided with plenty of information and then the script cuts back and forth to reveal character motive and what exactly is going on. Plot-wise, this film is a little far-fetched but ultimately provides a clever concept for a crime film, due to continual suspicion and red herrings. Miller also befriends Cooks, a local homeless man with a heroin addiction, and the two bond over their apparent enjoyment of drugs. Cooks, who trusts Miller almost instantly and strikes up a close friendship, gives valuable insight into the local drug scene as well as being the crux to the film’s harrowing commentary on drug addiction and street homelessness. He also leads Miller to discover Imran, a local drug supplier, who for some reason is not on the police’s radar and they set about befriending him too. The acting feels a bit wooden in parts, maybe in part due to the script occasionally stiffening up in some scenes, but Gurj Gill’s impressive performance ensures that Miller’s inner turmoil is always present. Likewise, his chemistry with Nisaro Karim (Imran) is palpable as the two men agree over shared childhood experiences and disagree over others. Whilst the cutting back and forth between scenes is confusing in parts, it suddenly all falls into place and the realities of corrupt systems are laid bare in a shocking and cruel way. Miller’s occasional narration to guide the viewer through more challenging scenes and key moments that he is reminiscing on is an emotive testimony. It feels angry and bitter, but not without immense feeling. Production-value wise, the film is very good-looking with a steady variation of camera shots that provide an overwhelming sense of Miller’s internal struggles as he gets too deep undercover. The camera is often dark and brooding when focusing on him, with lots of shadows falling across his face in the more intense scenes. These, coupled with numerous surveillance shots of the cast as he watches them go about their business feels invasive and works very well. All of this combined paints a delicate and dangerous picture of the psychology of being – or becoming – embroiled in a drug-fuelled world, without romanticising or embellishing the experience. Ultimately, we begin to question the reliability of our narrator as Miller’s perspective becomes more and more warped. His personal experiences of guilt and trauma all wrapped up in a want for justice is admirable even if it does become misguided. BLUFF is a commentary on the suffering that comes with the ‘war on drugs’ and is a bleak and cautionary tale that is worth a watch. This is Sheikh Shahnawaz’s first feature film and it will be exciting to see what projects he embarks upon next. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Amber Jackson Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Playdate film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Rocco Barbera, Dan Gilman directed by Cory Snearowski. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Playdate Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Aug 1, 2022 Directed by: Cory Snearowski Written by: Cory Snearowski Starring: Rocco Barbera, Dan Gilman Two childish men have fun playing with each other. This interesting, entertaining and surrealistic short film follows the friendship between two grown men who behave like children. Wearing childish clothing, they embark on a series of activities that children aged approximately ten would do. They play in a playground, chase each other in fields, vandalise payphones and mess around with road signs and a tractor among other things. There is hardly a narrative and watching these two men act like children feels weird, yet at the same time, it is also sweet and amusing, until a terrible event takes place that changes the atmosphere. Barbera and Gilman are amusing as two adults who, apart from their appearance, are basically children who just want to have fun. There are no spoken words at all and the two lead characters are constantly grinning as they enjoy playing together. The music that is provided by Raymond Scott is one of the strongest aspects here. The score is heard almost throughout the entire four-minute-long film and it sounds light-hearted and childish, which goes very well with the many scenes where the two men are playing. Regarding sound, the music dominates, as there is no speech or sound effects to be heard. The filmmakers make extensive use of fast motion, which makes the playtime between the two friends look even more comical. This short could be classified as a surrealistic comedy which also contains heavy drama. It appears to represent the desire that adults sometimes have to be children again, the joys of childhood and friendship and it also points out the dangers of careless behaviour and the devastation of loss. The cheerful performances and enjoyable score make this film an experience that is worth looking into. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film, Music Video < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Utama film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Jose Calcina, Luisa Quispe, Santos Choque directed by Alejandro Loayza Grisi. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Utama Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Dec 15, 2022 Directed by: Alejandro Loayza Grisi Written by: Alejandro Loayza Grisi Starring: Jose Calcina, Luisa Quispe, Santos Choque Per Quechua tradition, when a condor decides its life has lost its purpose, it flies to the top of the mountain, then closes its wings to die on the rocks below. It’s a heavy metaphor, and one that suits not only Utama ’s hero Virginio (José Calcina) but perhaps the entire Quechua way of life. Virginio and his wife Sisi (Luisa Guispe) live in the Bolivian highlands where they keep a small herd of llamas. But it’s been months since it rained. The well in the town several miles away is dry, and now Sisi has to make an even longer walk to a faraway river. Even the snow at the top of the mountain is gone. To make matters worse, Virginio’s cough has gotten deeper and more insistent. Their grandson Clever’s (Santos Choque) unexpected visit further throws the pair’s generally calm and simple life into chaos. In a stunning feature debut, writer/director Alejandro Loayza Grisi develops this simple premise into both an intimate tale of survival and a global allegory of time, change and destruction. Gorgeous Bolivian panoramas tell half the tale on their own, and the filmmaker’s framing is exceptional. Unlikely heroes disappear Eastwood-like into sunsets, jauntily festooned llamas crane their necks curiously about. Each splash of color feels like an act of bravery. Cinematographer Barbara Alvarez merges joy and sorrow in every image, her execution of Grisi’s vision simultaneously serene and forbidding, but always gorgeous. Sweetly heartbreaking performances from Guispe and Calcina deliver lived-in, enduring love that ensures the tale never tips too far toward symbol. You care deeply about what happens to these two. The authenticity of their work gives the film an almost documentary feel that only deepens its effect. Beautiful beyond measure but never showy, deliberate, and set among elderly people of a tiny community high in the hills of Bolivia, a film like Utama feels impossible. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

When the Screaming Starts film review by UK film critic Alex Crisp. Starring Ed Hartland, Jared Rogers, Kaitlin Reynell directed by Conor Boru. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS When the Screaming Starts Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Alex Crisp | Posted on: Sep 10, 2021 Directed by: Conor Boru Written by: Conor Boru, Ed Hartland Starring: Ed Hartland, Jared Rogers, Kaitlin Reynell Mockumentary slasher makes a mockery of mockumentaries and slashers / When the Screaming Starts , which is When the Film Starts / Louis Theroux: A Place For Serial Killers. I would happily spend all day delivering review-one liners, but for this piece let’s look into question they beg— what do mockumentaries, slashers and Louis Theroux have to do with a single movie? The first word defines the documentary team led by Norman (Jared Rogers), who moves into the home of Aden, an aspiring serial killer, believing it to be some kind of documentary filmmaking first. Aden’s gothishly intense girlfriend Claire encourages him to commit his first murder, but he’s a bit of a wimp. This establishes the film’s attempt at mining comedy out of the gulf between mundanity and extremism, attempt unfortunately being the operative word. The jokes never leave the ground. As its central gag When the Screaming Starts parodies Louis Theroux with Norman—dressing Jared Rogers up as Britain’s bespectacled national treasure, only with rubbish hair and additional pieces to camera. Indeed, director Conor Boru seems to have made his film after asking himself “What if Louis went too far?”. Except I could never suspend my disbelief that a documentary crew would record serial killers committing mass murder, unlike Taika Waititi’s similarly premised What We Do in the Shadows , in which a documentary crew records the lives of a house of Wellington vampires. Waititi engages in world-building to create a comical, vaguely fantastic alternate New Zealand, while heavily stressing the “mock” in mockumentary. The confused tone here stems from the decision to open with a series of realistic newscasts reporting a dinner party massacre. You can’t explicitly place events in reality and proceed to make something so utterly nonsensical. As a result of its failure to fully commit to parody, there are plot holes everywhere. Who is the cameraman acquiescing to Norman’s madness by filming everything? Doesn’t that make everyone involved complicit in the grievous crimes they’re documenting? Why does nobody call the police at the dinner party when the murdering starts taking place? And speaking of newscasts in horror comedies, Shaun of the Dead is inspired in its usage of them to create a sense of dread. All they do is work against When the Screaming Starts when it becomes a scare-free slasher. But surprising as it may be, there is a positive recommendation to make after this. If you want a thematic, sometimes funny, often bleak, and always human watch this week, stick on one of Louis Theroux’s inimitable documentaries instead. Stories nobody else tells and nobody else could. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Alex Crisp Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Flesh People film review by UK film critic Lee Sinden. Starring Jorge Carrion Alvarez, Louise Heller, Johnny Zito, Len Bellezza and Steve Gamble directed by Keshav Srinivasan. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Flesh People Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Lee Sinden | Posted on: Sep 7, 2026 Directed by: Keshav Srinivasan Written by: Keshav Srinivasan Starring: Jorge Carrion Alvarez, Louise Heller, Johnny Zito, Len Bellezza and Steve Gamble I think when reading the title of this film the audience is going to come to one of two conclusions. This is either a film about sexual desire or about the gruesome appetite for flesh. The story follows a young failed medical student and a more mature woman who has also had her fair share of failures. A lack of funds leads them down a very macabre and gruesome road. This is very much a horror slash comedy that does not pretend to reflect any kind of reality. It is almost like being in the crazy mind of the main characters and seeing the world through their eyes. This is quite a scary prospect. This is certainly a weird one and it does not pretend to be anything other than weird. This makes it work to some degree and actually brings about a few laughs. The scene with the eye is the highlight and is particularly fun and may bring about some laugh out loud moments. The combination of understated performance and hammy works quite well between the two main characters. We see Jorge Carrion Alvarez as Ricky who is quite melancholic as he dwells on his failures and the disappointment he has brought his family. Geraldine played by Louise Heller is a middle aged failed actress who continues her performance off stage. The two form an unlikely friendship and they are what holds the film together. They are definitely not people that you’d like to live next door to. They have created their own crazy reality, some of which is no doubt drug induced. The actors make this friendship seem believable and that is a credit to them. I don’t think the director expects the audience to take this film too seriously. The characters are truly off the wall and the whole premise of the film is quite ridiculous. I think this could have been a truly harrowing story but I feel the idea of bringing a comedic slant works better. The police officers are truly miscast and I hope this was a deliberate choice by the director to bring humour. The set design is very dour and this works really well as the audience observes the characters desperate situation. The apartment is where most of action takes place and it reflects the desperation of the main characters. There is no colour, the rooms are dimly lit or dark and this is a good choice from the director and is very effective. The close up facial scenes are very uncomfortable viewing and my advice would be that popcorn is not an option for viewers. If you get annoyed at the dinner table hearing someone enjoy a hearty meal then this may not be the film for you. It is a close up view of this everyday event placed on loud speaker. It is always a wonder how writers come up with certain ideas that display such a gruesome and sickening tone. Again some of the more gruesome scenes are dealt with comedically but are able to shock at the same time. This is a clever way of tackling the subject and probably the best option because this could be quite painful viewing. It is clear that the writer, also the director has an interest in horror and certainly has experience directing the genre. The bizarre ending is a negative and makes little sense and it may leave the audience with many questions. I am not sure there are meant to be any answers because this may be just random actions. Overall this is watchable if you like a mixture of blood, guts and nonsense. It actually kind of works once the viewer gets passed the slow start. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Lee Sinden Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Round film review by UK film critic Julian Gaskell. Starring Gary Wales, Kyle Pennington, Brad Bishop directed by A. G. Balázas . HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Round Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Julian Gaskell | Posted on: Jun 17, 2022 Directed by: A. G. Balázas Written by: A. G. Balázas Starring: Gary Wales, Kyle Pennington, Brad Bishop An indie short by A. G. Balázas that sees two contestants participate in a dystopian style drinking game with its roots firmly set in the present day. The ‘Game Master’ (Brad Bishop) enters the room wearing a hazmat protective suit and sets a small table with some drinking shot glasses, one of which he adds a mysterious white powder before pouring in the drink. He randomly rearranges the shot glasses in preparation for a Russian roulette style drinking game where the stakes are high. He finally loads a tape to the video camera before leaving the room. Next, we see the first contestant (Gary Wales) sat waiting in the room looking nervous and timid. In walks the second contestant (Kyle Pennington) with a bold swagger who sits confidently beside him. Both their brows are sweating by now as they eye each other up, the timer is ticking and then the buzzer goes signally it's time to choose their first shot glass to down. The contestants are quite different. The 1st contestant seems much more reluctant to play the game, whilst the 2nd contestant shows an intimidating arrogance. He's watchful of the first contestant, looking to make sure he is drinking properly. The dialogue between them is minimal but telling in what is an oppressed situation. The one contestant is clearly enjoying the game much more the other even though both are in the same predicament. There’s a nice sci-fi element to this brought about by the synth music and the CGI used in the game, which are both really effective, but oddly in juxtaposition with the overall staging of the short, where little attempt has been made to disguise its rudimental requirements. The location looks like a garage lock up, with some regular kitchen furniture put inside and the performers look casually dressed in their own clothing, which gives the proceedings more of a theatrical rehearsal impression (at least the Game Master gives some semblance of being in character wearing a boiler suit). This is in total contrast to the futuristic CGI graphics that are used in its ending that give the impression of some pretty powerful substances at work and some impressive technology that is not currently available today. Presumably these are to be washed over as time or budgetary restrictions for the imagination to fill in the gaps. It makes a nice premise for a reality TV game show in the ilk of a Hunger Games or Squid Games where great rewards await the winner with the losers left to face the ultimate consequence. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Julian Gaskell Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Bread Winners film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Barry Del Sherman, Pancho Morris, Wylie Keele directed by Connor Haines. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Bread Winners Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Jul 28, 2025 Directed by: Connor Haines Written by: Connor Haines Starring: Barry Del Sherman, Pancho Morris, Wylie Keele Bread Winners is an elusive and shapeshifting short film that is darkly comic and heart-poundingly intense. The film opens with a phone call from Hank Carver (Barry Del Sherman) to the manager of a gun store chain, Wade Nelson (Pancho Norris). What begins with a seemingly normal query about a pistol recently purchased takes a menacing turn, as Carver reveals his connection to the store goes much deeper than a normal customer. A tragedy in his past drives him to place Wade in a terrifying predicament, toying with the manager as he reveals his true intentions. Much like Hank Carver, Bread Winners enjoys toying with its audience, never settling into a consistent tone and repeatedly changing course and vibe in its short running time. This is not a negative – far from it. It is a strength of the film that guarantees audiences will remain glued to the screen as Hank and Wade’s conversation develops. Jumping between a dark comedy, an intense thriller and even revenge horror allows director Connor Haines to explore the story and its ramifications for his characters whilst also having fun with them and keeping the overall film just about light enough to find fun in. Barry Del Sherman’s performance as Hank is standout. His gunslinger drawl conjures control, cool and cut-throat. But as his background and motivations become clearer, it is obvious that he is a man carrying a great deal of regret and guilt, and is using his contact with Hank as a way to lash out. The assumed outcome most viewers will be expecting is terrifyingly believable given the efforts both director and performer make to add life to Hank. Pancho Norris is similarly enjoyable as Wade - a forgettable store manager placed in an unforgettable dilemma. Norris’ ability to extract humour from Wade’s cowardice is another key piece of maintaining the lightness of the film. Haines does an impressive job in creeping up tension throughout the film. It is no secret to the viewer from the get-go that Carver’s motives for ringing the store are sinister, but their real purpose is withheld until critical story moments. As his mental state is explored, the unpredictability of the story becomes gripping, as his background means any number of outcomes suddenly become possible. The twin settings of Carver’s confined vehicle (parked in an undisclosed location) and Wade’s office (where he balances the life-and-death nature of his call and the unknowing tomfoolery of his coworkers) makes the second half even more engaging. Bread Winners may not comfortably fit any traditional category, but it is undeniably memorable and electrifying. Some may find its topic uncomfortable or even unfit for humour, but those who enjoy some darkness will be enthralled by this daring short. Watch our Video Film Review of Breadwinners on YouTube. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Glade film review by UK film critic Chris Buick. Starring Mackenzie Paterson, Gilly Gilchrist directed by Harvey Gardner, Arthur Johnson. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Glade Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Chris Buick | Posted on: Feb 18, 2024 Directed by: Harvey Gardner, Arthur Johnson Written by: Harvey Gardner, Arthur Johnson Starring: Mackenzie Paterson, Gilly Gilchrist While looking to offload the corpse of his latest victim in a remote glade, young serial killer Louis (Paterson) is shocked to find someone else is also using his hiding spot. The Glade is not a film with a lot of bells and whistles. A single location, two characters (one of whom doesn’t say much of anything) and a handful of camera angles to showcase it all. It’s not terribly exciting but it is compelling, and this commendable short is clear in its idea and precise in its execution. As mentioned, the film comprises of two men in a field who happen to be burying their respective bodies in the same place. After initial high tensions they realise the quid pro quo situation at play here, and things start to calm down a bit. What unveils is essentially a seven-minute, one act play that builds steadily in tension and anticipation, drawing you in to the point where you simply have to find out where it’s all leading to. It's abundantly clear from the off that there is another shoe hanging precariously somewhere, ready to come crashing down at any moment, but Gardner and Johnson make us wait for, and most importantly, want it. It’s a testament to both Gardner and Johnson, who as well as sharing all the relevant duties; director, writer etc., clearly collaborate well and are able to be clear and confident in the films they want to make, the stories they want to tell, and how they want to tell them. It’s a well-written script that despite the tension, manages to inject little bits of humour into the macabre as well, there is just something inherently funny about two men having an awkward chit-chat while trying to bury their respective bodies, and those moments of levity give the mood of the film a good balance. As a two-hander it mostly works, King’s Louis is full of cheeky charisma, that of a young man infinitely sure of himself, feeling almost untouchable in everything he does, but with a motor mouth that can go on for days, whereas Gilchrist’s “Quiet Man” is very much the antithesis of all that, unsettlingly quiet, brooding and giving nothing away. It’s that juxtaposition of Louis’ irritating nature against the man’s palpable silence that gives the film that edge and letting them be the focus and the ones to drive the film’s tension higher and higher is a smart choice. One’s patience might be wearing a bit thin towards the closing minutes as we’re waiting for that aforementioned shoe to finally hit us, but the film does just get across the line before that patience starts to run out and in the end walks out with its head held high. Short and punchy with a clear direction and purpose, without ever dazzling The Glade delivers solid performances, focused storytelling and admirable technical filmmaking. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Chris Buick Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Decision film review by UK film critic Swati Verma. Starring Girish Majethiya, Akshay Borude directed by Girish Majethiya. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Decision Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Swati Verma | Posted on: Apr 20, 2022 Directed by: Girish Majethiya Written by: Girish Majethiya Starring: Girish Majethiya, Akshay Borude The red colour used for the title of the short film-Decision has connotations of life, danger, and anger. The writer-director Girish Majethiya explores the effect of an impulsive decision taken by the protagonist Ashitoush Takkar (Girish Majethiya). The red bluish colour palette and the music elevate the drama and thriller in the storyline. The plot of the movie revolves around a boy named Ashitoush who has been busy with his research work for years now and it has turned out to be a successful project. He has submitted it to the concerned institute and is eagerly waiting for a quick and positive response from their side. The use of mid and close up and extreme close-up shots covers the emotional turmoil Ashitoush goes through during the running time of the film. Time-lapse and flashback are utilized by the DOP Rushi Pinjari to establish the relationship between Ashitoush and Akash (Akshay Borude). The lighting, costume, and makeup are kept simple, and the actors chosen for the role are not well known. This was done to make the content more relatable to the audience so that they promise to deal with the underlying social message of issue of suicide, which the movie is trying to communicate to the viewers, with more awareness and care. In terms of performance, Girish Majethiya plays the role of Ashitoush Takkar. The actor portrays the difficulties of facing failure and the fear of not being able to keep up with the expectations from society so aptly. The voice modulation by the actor is an important element that helps the audience recognizes the switch in the mood of the movie. Akshay Borude is Akash who is the strongest support system of Ashitoush as Takkar is trying to prove his worth to everyone around him. Borude only had a small yet significant part to play in the narrative of the film. Akshay Borude effortlessly showcases the physical and mental hardships the family and friends have to face when they only have the option of helplessly accepting the pain of losing a loved one. Decision-the film, highlights the fact that there is a solution hidden within the problem; it is just about putting in the time and effort to find the same. Gratitude is a must-have quality which will help to become successful in life. It is good to thrive for success in life but success shouldn’t be achieved at the cost of losing life. The short film encourages its audience to deal with the difficult days with calm and be ready for the new twist in life. I liked the determination of Girish Majethiya to make this movie and spread awareness despite facing a lot of challenges in terms of limited resources. The young filmmaker proved that it is all about creating opportunities to work upon and come up with a cinematic piece that is beneficial for the betterment of the community. The treatment of the subject matter of the film is very basic and realistic; it increases the degree of audience engagement with the film. The only flaw in the movie is that the makers should work on the quality of subtitles as it makes the film difficult to follow for those who don’t understand the language. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Swati Verma Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

No Promised Land film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Destiny Soria, John Hall, Jennifer Ugochukwu directed by Colin Bressler. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS No Promised Land Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Aug 26, 2023 Directed by: Colin Bressler Written by: Colin Bressler Starring: Destiny Soria, John Hall, Jennifer Ugochukwu After a terrible event, a desperate young woman goes on the run with her child. The heroine of this story is an unnamed Native American woman (Soria) who works as a waitress and lives inside a caravan in Texas. After meeting a wealthy businessman (Hall), she forms a relationship with him and ends up having his child, a son. The man is actually married and refuses to have anything to do with either of them. Torn apart by his betrayal, the poor heroine goes to extreme measures in order to build a better life for herself and her boy. This emotional drama has a non-linear narrative. The screenplay constantly alternates between the woman and her toddler son in the rear seats of a car that is driven by an unknown woman (Ugochukwu) and flashbacks of the mother meeting and starting a romance with her eventually no-good partner, raising her child and failing to persuade the father to be part of their lives. Initially, it is not clear why mother and child are in that car and the devastating events that led to that are revealed later. Basically, the flashbacks work as a social drama and the present scenes in the car are where the feature becomes a road movie thriller about survival. The story strongly explores the heroine's emotional deterioration and how much she cares for her child. Soria dramatically portrays a tragic heroine. She is a character who unwillingly finds herself being a single mother, facing financial difficulties and making desperate decisions in the hope of making things better. Her son is her prime motivation for keeping strong. The film contains beautiful, melancholic music with wonderful piano melodies which (along with Soria's voice-over) creates quite a dramatic atmosphere. There are various sequences throughout where diegetic sounds disappear and a non-diegetic score dominates. There are short montages and the filmmakers frequently utilise slow motion and dissolve techniques. This hour-long feature is a dark and heartbreaking story that follows a woman's life going from bad to worse and her determination to protect her child. It is a distressing viewing about desperation, social class differences and lives being destroyed by cruelty, but it also explores parenthood and inner strength. No Promised Land is available on Tubi at https://tubitv.com/movies/100008386/no-promised-land . Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Found film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Paul Woodward, Jack McLaughlin, Hannah McGlynn, Martin McAleese directed by Thomas Elliott Griffiths. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Found Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: May 6, 2026 Directed by: Thomas Elliott Griffiths Written by: Thomas Elliott Griffiths Starring: Paul Woodward, Jack McLaughlin, Hannah McGlynn, Martin McAleese Two brothers deal with the fallout of some found footage that their dad had stashed away in a shoebox, only finding it now, after his death. Right from the off, in Found , we get to watch the footage that the brothers have stumbled upon in amongst their dad’s stuff. It’s brutal and graphic from the start, showing a young woman in a dimly lit basement, wearing only a nightgown on a filthy mattress, being tormented by the man behind the camera – Daddy. The performance from Hannah McGlynn as the victim is very convincing, and the rawness of the home video adds to the realness of the situation, giving a chilling aspect to the disturbing footage. Thankfully, we don’t have to stay in the basement too long, as writer/director, Thomas Elliot Griffiths, decides to give us more than just a regular found footage horror story. Conceptualised as an idea for a filmmaker challenge centred around the theme of ‘found footage’, it’s great to see that Griffiths chose to be a little meta with his narrative and allowed his story to come away from the strict ‘in-camera POV’ that so often restricts so many films in the genre, especially seeing as it’s so short. Coming out of the basement, we then meet the two brothers (Woodward and McLaughlin) who are watching their dad carry out these atrocities, and now we get to worry about their relationship to the footage and just what it is they’re going to do about it. This extra dimension is very helpful in standing the film out from what can be a fairly formulaic genre, and in only six-and-a-half-minutes, we get a lot of story and a double narrative to consider, along with a bunch of striking visuals and some deep themed dialogue. The real-world consequences of the brothers finding this footage are critical to the fact of its existence in the first place, and the problems that their father creates, even after his death, could follow them for generations to come. There are no easy decisions in Found , and it is not an easy watch either, testing audience boundaries with its content, while making the viewer really question what a ‘good’ decision would be in this situation. If there is any gripe to be had, it’s that the delivery from the main leads is sub-par. Understandably, with a fifty quid budget everyone’s working with what they’ve got, and good actors are hard to come by, but the quick Scouse that runs through the lines is too much for most of us to handle, and the dialogue slips from authentic to unintelligible at times. Despite this, the production in otherwise well handled, and the whole film comes together without wasting a second of its runtime, even in the credits. If only more things that we Found were as surprising and as satisfying as this chilling short film. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Hemingway Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Way Things Used 2 B film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Jackie Romankow, Lee Keinan, Meredith Brown directed by Kurstin Moser, Ciara Naughton. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Way Things Used 2 B Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jan 7, 2026 Directed by: Kurstin Moser, Ciara Naughton Written by: Ciara Naughton, Kurstin Moser Starring: Jackie Romankow, Lee Keinan, Meredith Brown A short comedy written and directed by Kurstin Moser and Ciara Naughton and starring Jackie Romankow, Lee Keinan and Meredith Brown. This film is meant to feel like a Y2K romcom and the story takes place in the early 2000s. Jenny (Romankow) is a spoiled, jobless, university dropout who loves shopping (using her parents' card). Her disapproving sister, Lizzie (Brown) informs her that this situation cannot go on any longer and that Jenny needs to find a job. Following Lizzie's advice, Jenny heads to a local country club, where there is need for staff. There, she encounters Darren (Keinan), a former classmate from school who is now the manager, who she also used to dislike. Jenny will work at the club and re-evaluate her feelings regarding Darren. A light-hearted comedy about a young woman going through significant life changes and learning a thing or two about herself. There is good character development and significant dedication to the rapport that builds between Jenny and Darren, with her initially being reluctant to work and denying that she could ever fancy Darren. The humour exists primarily in Jenny's awkward perception on life and her attempts to adapt to the working world and to come to terms with her emotions. The film lets it be known that the story is set around the year 2000, with references here and there that include a poster of Clueless and mentioning the PlayStation 2. The selection of songs is quite cool, with tracks such as Girlfriend Song by Juice, One Love by Fox Drop ft. Lars Safsund and Don't Fall Apart by G9 adding a lot of entertainment. Having the role of the main character, Romankow leads the film well, playing a youngster who changes from a naive and carefree mall rat into a more mature and understanding person. Keinan's character is a hardworking and likeable guy, who serves as the person who changes Jenny's life, beginning from being someone who she detests then becoming her love interest. And finally, Lizzie is the criticizing and sarcastic sibling who pushes Jenny to change her life. This short tells a story about self-discovery, about a person turning their life around and learning more about the world and about themself. And it is also about romance and relationships, reminiscing the past and people changing and becoming better. A nice, feel-good story about making life-changing decisions and finding romance. The uplifting story, the humour and the soundtrack make this an experience that is amusing and worthy of recognition. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >