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Dark Glasses film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Ilenia Pastorelli, Andrea Zhang, Asia Argento directed by Dario Argento. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Dark Glasses Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Oct 10, 2022 Directed by: Dario Argento Written by: Dario Argento, Franco Ferrini Starring: Ilenia Pastorelli, Andrea Zhang, Asia Argento Giallo is the soap opera of horror, and you have to embrace that to appreciate it. Emotion and drama, tension, fear and sexuality are amped up to a ludicrous degree, with sense and sensibility tossed out the window. Few have ever done this as well as Dario Argento. I’d argue Mario Bava, but many consider Argento the king of giallo, and with good reason – his landmark 1977 film Suspiria may be the high-water mark for the entire genre. After a decade away from filmmaking in general and longer still since his last giallo, Argento returns to form with Dark Glasses . Passions run high and bad decisions are rampant as Diana (Ilenia Pastorelli) attempts to evade a serial killer. But wait, it’s more complicated than that! You see, she’s also blind and has sort of kidnapped this kid. It’s better if you don’t ask. Though the score is not from Goblin, composer Arnaud Rebotini’s electronic soundtrack conjures classic giallo. Indeed, between those recognizable chimes and an early throat severing, you’d think you were watching Argento of old. But the filmmaker does have a couple new ideas in store, and marginally less misogyny onscreen. Diana’s a harder-edged protagonist than what you find in other films from the Italian maestro. A high-end sex worker, she’s nonplussed about her line of work and disinterested in anyone else’s opinion of it. She’s a peculiar central character and Argento, who co-wrote the script with frequent collaborator Franco Ferrini (Opera , Phenomena ), gives her more to do than elude victimization. She develops skills and bonds in the second act that feel reasonable and realistic, sometimes even tender. It helps ground the film in character before those characters step into a den of watersnakes and remind you that you are essentially watching a soap opera. There are some inventive kills, gore aplenty, and loads of reminders of why Argento has developed such a boisterous following. This is by no means his best film, but it’s by no means his worst, either. Everyone yells when they shouldn’t yell, everyone pauses when they shouldn’t pause, everyone talks when they shouldn’t talk, but who cares when the blood is this red and free-flowing? About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release, Digital / DVD Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Bridge of the Doomed film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Kate Watson, Robert LaSardo, Michael Pare, Sarah French, William 'Bill' Connor directed by Michael Su. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Bridge of the Doomed Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Oct 27, 2022 Directed by: Michael Su Written by: Adrian Milnes Starring: Kate Watson, Robert LaSardo, Michael Pare, Sarah French, William 'Bill' Connor A zombie outbreak is taking place and the United States Armed Forces are fighting back. In this horror film, a virus is infecting people and turning them into flesh-eating zombies. The story takes place in the U.S., where a team of soldiers are sent to defend an isolated bridge that goes over a river, as it is the only way the undead can reach the other side. The platoon must fight off the hostiles and at the same time try to deal with a group of survivors that they encounter in the countryside. This is a low-budget zombie movie that tells a story about an outbreak through the eyes of the military. The screenplay does not waste any time bringing the audience into the mayhem, by beginning with an army base being attacked. There are plenty of elements that are almost always present in zombie films, such as a lot of zombies, a lot of killings, a lot of gore and a lot of shooting. The plot is basically a fight for survival, with the soldiers defending the bridge, while having other problems that include running out of food and getting into confrontations with the band of civilians, who are led by the stubborn Big Jim Bill (Connor). The main character is Hernandez (Watson), a tough, no-nonsense sergeant who turns out to be a great fighter and makes a good heroine. Other notable characters include General Vasquez (LaSardo), who sends the soldiers to the bridge, Big Jim Bill and Susan (French). The zombies look the way they often do: rotting, covered in blood and moving awkwardly. There are plenty of scenes where the undead do what they do best: devouring people. A lot of praise goes to the zombie makeup and the makeup for the injuries, which are usually accompanied by gruesome sounds when they are inflicted. Clint Carney and Ted Phelps worked on the music and do an interesting job, creating a score that is tense and also sounds electonic at times. It is worth mentioning that the song What Doesn't Kill Me (Had Better Start Running) by Psycho Synner was a great choice. This soldiers-versus-zombies horror feature is not memorable, yet the action and slayings are worth the viewing. The acting is poor and so is the script and there is an attempted rape scene that is quite unsettling. Nevertheless, fans of the zombie genre should give this one a go. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Perpetrator film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Kiah McKirnan, Alicia Silverstone, Ireon Roach directed by Jennifer Reeder. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Perpetrator Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Aug 29, 2023 Directed by: Jennifer Reeder Written by: Jennifer Reeder Starring: Kiah McKirnan, Alicia Silverstone, Ireon Roach Jennifer Reeder is preoccupied with missing girls. Her 2019 gem Knives and Skin watched a town fall to pieces around one such absence. Where that film was full of melancholy absurdities, Reeder’s latest, Perpetrator , is a little bolder, a little angrier. As Jonny (Kiah McKirnan) approaches her 18th birthday she goes a tad out of control. Her dad (also in some kind of crisis) doesn’t know what to do with her, but an out-of-town aunt (Alicia Silverstone, a sinister delight) offers to take her in. So, Jonny goes from a fairly anonymous, if reckless, urban life to something far more noticeable in her aunt’s small town. And there is something deeply amiss in Jonny’s new hometown. Girls just go missing. All the time. McKirnan’s fish out of water performance is so much fun here because Reeder forces the audience to identify with this feral creature. The rest of the town is so odd, almost willing victims after a lifetime of systemic herding. Jonny’s humor, cynicism and enjoyable streak of opportunism give the film a constant sense of forward momentum, though the just-this-side-of-surreal atmosphere has a dreamlike quality. Silverstone’s prickly, unpredictable performance is nothing but twisted fun, and all the supporting turns contribute something simultaneously authentic and bizarre to the recipe. (That’s a cooking metaphor because of Aunt Hildie’s birthday cake, an ingenious and foul plot kink worth acknowledging.) Reeder’s work routinely circles back to peculiar notions of coming of age, but John Hughes she ain’t. Goofiness and seriousness, the eerie and the grim, the surreal and familiar all swim the same bloody hallways, practice the same open shooter drills, and speak up at the same assemblies honoring the latest missing girl. Reeder’s interested in the way women are raised to disregard one another, to compete with each other, to be adored and consumed, sexualized, victimized and vilified. Her reaction to this environment amounts to a reclamation of blood. Perpetrator swims in blood and gore and humor and terror and feminism galore. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Peter Hujar's Day film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Ben Whishaw, Rebecca Hall directed by Ira Sachs. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Peter Hujar's Day Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Nov 19, 2025 Directed by: Ira Sachs Written by: Ira Sachs, Linda Rosenkranz Starring: Ben Whishaw, Rebecca Hall Linda Rosenkranz blurred lines between fiction and nonfiction, turning conversation into a microcosm of Chelsea Hotel-orbiting 1970s society. Peter Hujar—one artist in that orbit—provided photographic evidence of the same. Writer/director Ira Sachs attempts to trap that same lightning on screen with Peter Hujar’s Day . Sachs adapts a transcript, part of a planned book by Rosenkrantz in which her artist friends simply dictated, in detail, every event of the previous day. We catch Peter Hujar on December 18, 1974. Ben Whishaw is Hujar, dutifully detailing his previous day to a prodding, intimate Rosenkranz (Rebecca Hall). Theirs are the only faces you see, the only voices you hear, for the film’s brisk 75-minute run time. The two fall into a delightfully familiar chemistry, Linda a little protective, Peter a tad vulnerable, but certainly committed. Every detail—from sleeping through his alarm and being awakened by a phone call, through all the phone calls, naps, liverwurst sandwiches, right up until being awakened in the middle of the night by the prostitutes talking business under his window—is recounted. Faithful to the tone of Rosenkranz’s body of work, Sachs spotlights the fiction structuring the nonfiction, blurring lines while drawing attention to them. The banality of the exercise—forcing himself to remember every forgettable detail of a day—strips the conversation of ego or pretention, unveiling introspection and struggle. Whishaw is exceptional, the rote and self-consciousness at the beginning of the conversation evolving into self-effacing humor and, eventually, raw bursts of personal reflection touched by lilting melancholy. Hall is a gift in this role, the personification of the absolute joy in simply giving your attention, listening and being with a person. Set design and cinematography befit not just the time period but the portraiture Hujar is known for. Sachs captures kindship and camaraderie among artists. Peter Hujar’s Day is a peek inside a lost and treasured time, an era of punk rock artistic and literary revolution. It’s also a bittersweet dance with an artist underappreciated in his time, whose work and words pack a punch 50 years on. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Under Offer film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Sumah Ebele, Archie Fisher, Kurtis Thompson directed by Vincenzo Pellegrino. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Under Offer Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Feb 22, 2024 Directed by: Vincenzo Pellegrino Written by: Ben Clough, Vincenzo Pellegrino Starring: Sumah Ebele, Archie Fisher, Kurtis Thompson Under Offer is an all-too-relatable short comedy that dissects the difficulties young people face getting on the property ladder or even finding a roof to put over their heads in a market where development firms have squeezed all but the richest off of the ladder. It’s an imperfect but enjoyable film, with a likeable and impressively developed ensemble cast. When squatters Dev (Sumah Ebele) and Billy (Archie Fisher) find that their latest residence is being auctioned, they decide to take matters into their own hands. They set out to convince pregnant couple Ali (Akim Bangura) and Ash (Louise O’Dowd), and young professionals Nick (Christopher Williams) and Jess (Georgia Cudby) that the place has a dark past. Estate agent Izzy (Kurtis Thompson) does his best to make a sale in spite of their efforts, but Nick and Jess’ own secret poses more of a threat than anything Dev and Billy can come up with. The highlight of Under Offer is the intelligent character construction undertaken by writer and director Vincenzo Pellegrino. Viewers get a sense of the lives of each member of the main cast, much beyond their role in the events of the film. It builds authenticity and relatability, and develops each of their motivations, ideals and histories. It makes for an almighty emotional clash over the property at the plot’s heart – where audience sympathies will be split between Dev and Billy, and Ali and Ash – with even some left over for hapless agent Izzy, who we see having a nightmare first day on the job. The plot itself is a relatively straightforward one that allows the comedy to flourish. The film elicits genuine laughs, as Dev and Billy spice up the already-gross apartment with satanic decorations to really put off the potential buyers (to no avail), and Christopher Williams’ Nick comes up with a dreadful cover story of being Jason Statham’s stunt double to hide his true identity. The film critiques development companies’ habit of circumventing rules to buy up properties in order to shoot up mortgage and rental prices that make owning a home a pipe dream to many young people. Where the squatters may wish to prevent anyone moving in to their specific place, it is these corporations that lock people out of the market entirely, and this theme is well-communicated throughout the story through conversations between all parties. There are a few misfires – such as the raising of relationship issues between Dev and Billy which ultimately lead to nothing, and lack of chemistry between a few of the cast members which stilts the dialogue at times. There is also not much of a resolution to Izzy’s character, whose circumstances end up lacking much overall relevance despite focus being given to his desperation to make a sale. But these strands and rough edges leave no mark on the film’s charm or comedic value. For a lower-budget short to tell an engaging story with seven well-developed, multi-dimensional characters is more than enough value for money – meaning Under Offer actually offers well above its market value. About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Smash & Grab film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Sasha Frost, Shanika Warren-Markland, Ayesha Griffiths, Anna Harriott directed by Neil Linpow. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Smash & Grab Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jul 30, 2022 Directed by: Neil Linpow Written by: Neil Linpow Starring: Sasha Frost, Shanika Warren-Markland, Ayesha Griffiths, Anna Harriott A group of women are in a car, on their way to do serious stuff. Three women are inside a car, driving through a city. They stop and a fourth one joins them. As they head to their destination, they discuss their strategy regarding what is about to take place. It soon becomes apparent that the four of them are on their way to commit a smash-and-grab robbery. This tense short presents itself as a crime thriller, with the story taking place just before a violent raid. The tension rises and rises thanks to the well-written dialogue, strong acting and exciting music, all of which indicate that something shocking is about to happen. The women are all wearing black clothing and they seem to be quite focused, tense and determined. They have clearly being preparing for what they are going to do and there is no stopping them. By the time they reach the location, the audience is certain that things are going to explode. Within a duration of approximately two minutes, this film manages to grab the viewer's attention right from the start and maintain it throughout, until the unexpected plot twist arrives that utterly changes the atmosphere. The protagonists all play their part very convincingly and their performances are vital in order for the film to have significant effects on the viewer. Job Reineke does amazing work with the cinematography and Linpow's creative directing includes wonderful aerial shots. Credit also goes to the score, which effectively develops drama and tension. Despite being rather short, this thriller is quite a thrilling ride and leaves a significant impact due to the suspense, tension and the clever plot twist. It is an experience that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats and then surprise them and it deserves recognition. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

That Christmas film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw directed by Simon Otto. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS That Christmas Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Dec 3, 2024 Directed by: Simon Otto Written by: Richard Curtis, Peter Souter Starring: Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw More than two decades ago, writer/director Richard Curtis made a very British Christmas film. It hasn’t aged particularly well, though many folks watch it year in, year out. Including, apparently, the inhabitants of Wellington-on-Sea. Now, that may be because That Christmas— the new animated film set in the little port village—was co-written by Curtis. The Love Actually joke is a good bit in director Simon Otto’s holiday tale that’s a bit disjointed but never lacking in charm. The film opens with Santa (Brian Cox—wait, really?) narrating the climax of one particularly problematic Christmas Eve night in the tiny community. The worries are larger than just this massive blizzard. But to do it all justice, Santa has to take us back a few days, to the school Christmas play. One set of twins is split on the naughty and nice lists. One tween girl, left to care for her baby sister and three other children, breaks tradition but may also be negligent enough to allow tragedy to occur. And lonesome Danny (Jack Wisniewski) fears he will spend Christmas utterly alone. Curtis, writing with Peter Souter, creates another crisscrossing of bittersweet, intimate, interconnected Christmas stories. And once again, Bill Nighy (this time voicing the character Lighthouse Bill) is underused. The animation is delightful, the humor decidedly British, and the hijinks wholesome but relatable and often bittersweet. One bit about an under-appreciated single mum is not only beautifully tender but also quite welcome. But none of it is particularly funny, or terribly fresh. Five years ago, Netflix produced Klaus , a Christmas story that was stunning to look at and full of surprises. This year’s holiday offering is a charmer, and its understated humor and wry observations help to keep it engaging regardless of your age. But that’s not enough for That Christmas to transcend the glut of Christmas fare this year (and every year) to become an annual tradition. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Netflix, Animation < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Lady Governess film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring Lucia Goya Betts directed by Tito Wiley . HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Lady Governess Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Nov 17, 2023 Directed by: Tito Wiley Written by: Tito Wiley Starring: Lucia Goya Betts You hear a lot of people talking about a crisis in the film industry. That is something which is, to an extent true, with the recent strikes, plummeting box office numbers and the struggle for refreshing auteurs to emerge and be given the funding to create successful original films. Yet, ‘Lady Governess’ points to another consensus, that the film industry and creativity is alive and well, or at the very least it should be, with potential for a wonderful, exciting future, however, it is consistently undermined by studio heads and execs, who, in the process of prioritising money over creativity, instead stifle their own profits and the industry as a whole. ‘Lady Governess’ points to a brighter future for the very point that it is a fresh film, showing an abundance of creativity made by someone of just sixteen years of age, writer and director Tito Wiley. For someone so young to show both such a keen interest in filmmaking, and such skill in the craft at such an early stage adds to the excitement of ‘Lady Governess’, it’s watching someone with the potential to be an extremely successful auteur finding his feet in the craft with nothing but his passion and talent to work with. The film itself tells the story of a mysterious young widow, played by Wiley’s sister Lucia Goya Betts, whose miserable, isolated existence is changed when she hires a housekeeper, named Karen, and also played by Lucia Goya Betts, to keep her company. The widow has lived largely in isolation - leaving her house only for the most necessary tasks - for the past seven years, and believes that living with someone else will help bring her back into the world again at last. Unfortunately for her, the housekeeper whom she has hired is mentally psychotic, as should perhaps have been obvious by her speaking with the most outdated idioms. Her incursions into the widow’s life grow as they live together, becoming obsessive and haunting both her every living, and every sleeping moment. As a director Tito Wiley excels, especially on such a shoestring budget, and being limited to filming inside his home (though admittedly it is a home perfect for filmmaking) and whilst on holiday in Spain. He shows a creativity, and awareness of filmmaking techniques beyond his years, from the classic dutch angle, to the inventivity used to film the number of scenes featuring both characters played his sister. Even if the writing is at times a little stilted and the ideas are never truly cohesive, the freshness of the story should still be applauded, as should the very fact that a sixteen year old has the courage to both write a script and then follow through with it. Other technical aspects, are remarkably well done given the limited budget, and another sign of early filmmaking prowess. ‘Lady Governess’ is a remarkable film, and for more than purely the age of its creator. It’s remarkable in the invention and creativity which it demonstrates on a shoestring budget and for the approach it takes with the story. It’s remarkable for the talent demonstrated by Lucia Goya Betts in her dual role, and for the talent of Tito Wiley in his directing, but moreover, it's remarkable how fresh the story feels, and how impressive that is from a developing auteur. About the Film Critic Joe Beck Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Film news - Accessible films at BFI Flare 2021. Find out more at UK Film Review. Accessible films at BFI Flare 2021 Chris Olson Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 11:17:20 AM UTC BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival is for everyone. We’re committed to ensuring it is as inclusive and accessible as possible. The majority of English-language features and shorts are accessible with: Closed caption subtitles, including descriptions of non-dialogue audio, for customers who are D/deaf or hard of hearing Audio description for customers who are blind or partially-sighted For a full list of films with closed captions and audio description, follow the link below. You can watch feature films at any point during the Festival wherever you are in the UK. Once you start the film, you have 4 hours to finish watching. All Screen Talks, pre-recorded introductions, Q&As and events will have subtitles - and will be available to watch for free online. If you have any questions about access or would like to share your feedback with us, please email box.office@bfi.org.uk Closed captioning supported by Mishcon de Reya 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

Watch Brother Troll at the 2022 UK Film Review Festival. See the UKFRF 2022 lineup and buy your festival pass. Brother Troll Listen to our review on the film podcast What our film review said: READ FULL REVIEW 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. Proudly supporting MediCinema for our 2022 film festival.

Destroyer film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Sin Heng Chan, Sasha Jagsi, Jorge Fernandes directed by Albert Bullock. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Destroyer Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: May 27, 2023 Directed by: Albert Bullock Written by: Albert Bullock Starring: Sin Heng Chan, Sasha Jagsi, Jorge Fernandes A photographer tells her disturbing life story. Two young women arrive at a photography studio for a photoshoot. One is the photographer (Chan) and the other is the model (Jagsi). While the session goes on, the artist proceeds to tell her customer about her past and the revelations are rather sinister. This short thriller is quite a dark story that explores very dark subjects. The narrative alternates between the studio, with the photographer telling her story to the model (who becomes more and more upset by what she hears) and sequences from her past, including flashbacks, photographs and family footage of her dog Paul and her cousin Micah (Fernandes). While taking pictures, the photographer explains how she ended up with her current profession, which results in her mentioning unsettling facts about her childhood, beginning with the harsh upbringing she had with her parents who were strictly religious, before moving on to distressing events involving her dog and her cousin. As sinister as the photographer's story is, there are also images that add to the dark atmosphere such as footage of people wearing white masks, who are inside a church (presumably the troubled heroine's parents) and a montage of historical and real-life photos that have sinister connections, including one of musician and singer John Lennon with the man who would eventually murder him and one of former U.S. President George W. Bush being informed of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The sinister music certainly helps in creating a distressing mood and the filmmakers make effective use of slow motion, out of focus and fast cutting techniques. The photographer is the main center of the film and Chan convincingly portrays her as a disturbed individual with a troubled childhood. This psychological thriller places the viewer into the mind of a person who has serious mental issues. It explores very dark issues that include childhood trauma, animal cruelty, online pornography, mental health and revenge. It is an uncomfortable viewing, however it deserves praise for the dark and powerful atmosphere that it creates, which makes it a memorable experience. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Fading Petals film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Melanie Revill, Charlotte Reidie, Tom Metcalf, Gary Raymond directed by Bradley Charlton. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Fading Petals Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Mar 1, 2022 Directed by: Bradley Charlton Written by: Bradley Charlton Starring: Melanie Revill, Charlotte Reidie, Tom Metcalf, Gary Raymond An elderly woman and her young carer open up to each other, leading to dramatic consequences. A young female carer has been assigned to look after an ill, single, old woman who lives by herself in her home. The aged woman appears a bit eccentric and initially she is cold and distant towards her helper and questions her about her life. Eventually, the two women learn more about each other and bond. However, it is later revealed that things are not what they appear to be. This dark psychological drama explores the lives of two troubled individuals and the relationship that develops between them. Basically, the first half or so focuses on the interactions between the carer and the old woman. None of the characters' names are revealed. The elderly woman claims that she does not want to bond with the youngster, yet she wishes to know more about her, to find out who she is. She asks her rather personal questions, much to the carer's disapproval. During the second half, things change rather dramatically, with revelations that make the viewer question events they saw previously. The strong screenplay contains a great deal of drama and emotional conversations. The struggles that the two women go through are shown rather vividly. The narrative contains situations that deal with trauma, regrets, loneliness, alcoholism, religion, domestic violence, mental health and self-discovery. There is hardly any happiness in this hard-hitting story. The unexpected twists effectively turn things around and bring the audience closer to understanding what is really going on. The acting is superb. Revill is astonishing as an unhappy loner who spends her time painting, building a dollhouse and solving puzzles. She is haunted by her past, has a drinking problem and tends to be violent when she gets angry. Reidie is equally great as a young person who has troubles of her own, as she is living with her abusive father who does not want his daughter dating. Metcalf and Raymond play their supporting roles very well. Charlton's directing includes well-executed long takes and the editing makes good use of fast cutting techniques. Oliver Rigby delivers beautiful cinematography and there are creative lighting effects. The score by William Cunningham is powerful and dramatic and adds significant value to the feature. This film is a distressing story that is rather heavy on emotions. The atmosphere is downbeat and the dramatic revelations, confrontations and powerful performances make this movie an admirable achievement. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >