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The Tale of Kso-Wi 2 film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Joshua Kowi, SeoJin Baek. Lilian Connor directed by Joshua Kowi. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Tale of Kso-Wi 2 Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Jun 16, 2025 Directed by: Joshua Kowi Written by: Joshua Kowi Starring: Joshua Kowi, SeoJin Baek. Lilian Connor The Tale of Kso-Wi 2 mixes teenage drama, martial arts and anime sentimentality to produce a flawed but passionate sequel that continues Joshua Kowi’s love letter to Japanese culture. This student film is packed with heart and manages to communicate a definitive style despite plentiful technical hiccups. Following the defeat of Akuto, Kso-Wi (Kowi) settles into life at a new Ninja Arts Academy designed to train the next generation of martial artists. Wrestling with his feelings for Mai’Man (Jon Cornwell) and trying to abide by the rules of Principal Sensei (Jamelia Fulton), any chance of a normal upbringing is threatened by new student Diamant (Matthew Duck), who comes into possession of a form of dark magic. Student films are for nothing if not experimentation and passion. Both exude from The Tale of Kso-Wi 2 . Viewers without any familiarity with anime stylings are likely to be left baffled – but this live-action homage works as a loving parody of the tropes usually seen in Japanese animation. The cast are clearly loving the repeating musical interludes wherein characters lay bare their emotional baggage and exposition is dumped shamelessly. Joshua Kowi stands out in these sequences. Clearly the film’s biggest personality, his Kso-Wi is missed when not on-screen (particularly in the second act) thanks to his willingness to throw himself entirely into the ridiculousness of the film’s storytelling. Matthew Duck is similarly a joy as the villainous Diamant, his sinister cartoonishness missing only a moustache to twirl. These sequences allow for some of the funnier moments in the film as the cast break out into song, but the writing results in great humour too. The name ‘Mai’Man’ is mined for as many laughs as can be extracted, and Jon Cornwell demonstrates his physical comedy chops in some of the fight sequences. The teen drama wouldn’t look out of place in a more traditional high-school comedy, though it taking place with samurai swords and headbands galore adds a splash of colour that is welcome. It's natural that flaws will be present in an amateur production. The sound levels are off in many scenes making some of the dialogue difficult to hear. Fight sequences are poorly edited (perhaps intentionally if going for authentic old-school Japanese style though, it must be said…), and anyone without at least an appreciation (if not an outright love) for anime or Japanese culture more widely will quickly become tired of the eccentricity and musical breaks. The Tale of Kso-Wi 2 is clearly made for its cast to enjoy more than anything, and their passion for their idea justifies this purpose. Out of this context it is at times funny, at times baffling, at times tiresome. But really it deserves credit as an overall production and for working as a loving parody of its creator’s shared passion. It speaks of a promising set of filmmakers who understand the mechanics of the screen, and who will thrive with a bigger budget to play with. About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Company of Prophets film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring Nakell Rashad, Ashley Nief, KrisMarshall directed by Malcolm Carter. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Company of Prophets Film Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Apr 22, 2023 Directed by: Malcolm Carter Written by: Malcolm Carter Starring: Nakell Rashad, Ashley Nief, KrisMarshall The colour blue sometimes symbolises melancholy. Equally it sometimes symbolise isolation, or even tranquility. In Malcolm Carter’s ‘Company of Prophets’ it might as well symbolise the colour of the sky, for though its central character is certainly melancholic, it’s a subject handled so poorly that its messaging is effectively redundant. There’s a sense that the director wants to purport some kind of religious message amidst the chaos of his sprawling screenplay, none of which makes much sense, as characters repeatedly contradict themselves. It’s all far too convoluted to follow, with barely a semblance of a story, and even less any firm character motivations. Any attempts to impose some kind of holier than thou message is lost amongst a blizzard of curses and insults, which, coupled with the frustratingly impulsive screenplay make ‘Company of Prophets’ a confusing, difficult to watch, mess. The women at the forefront of ‘Company of Prophets’ is Mala (Nacelle Rashad), a weary woman, and former rap artist, who has mysteriously disappeared overseas for years. Returning home she suffers from problems with PTSD, hearing gunfire and having visions of men jumping in cars from the war zone she has allegedly returned from. This adds nothing to the plot, and isn’t touched on a second time, a clear indication of the reckless screenplay. Of course, Mala suffers from other problems, one which isn’t addressed is the obvious dilemma of her asking a client (she becomes some sort of guidance counsellor, though masked criminals are somehow involved??!) to strip down naked in an interview. These ‘maverick methods’ are brushed across far too quickly, with no degree of accountability for what is plainly sexual harassment. Tasked, seemingly by the masked criminals (it’s difficult to keep track), of reforming a group of troubled youths and taking them to the top of the rap game, it’s fair to say that Mala is no Robin Williams when it comes to teaching or counselling. Instead she’s more concerned with a hastily introduced plot of getting revenge for her family, leaving the youths, including Kevin (KrisMarshall), and Talia (Ashley Nief) to get high and have sex in her apartment while she retreats to her room and breaks her own ‘no music’ policy. Kevin, Talia, and any other early twenty-something in ‘Company of Prophets’ is such an exaggeration of perceptions of young people - every other word a curse, often a derogatory insult - as misconceptions of young people as degenerate delinquents are relentlessly perpetuated. The stylistic decision to tint the entire film blue is… odd, to say the least. While it never detracts from the film, it fails to add anything either, and is indicative of the lack of clear direction behind the film. At no stage does it feel at all cinematic, with that more a fault of Malcolm Carter’s writing than his direction, which is solid. But that doesn’t make up for one of the most appalling screenplays this critic has seen put to screen, with not a single likeable character (in particular Mala, who is a horrible woman) and a far, far too convoluted plot, attempting to juggle so many plates that each ends up smashing. There’s very little about ‘Company of Prophets’ that resembles an actual film, more a compilation of ideas and clips that happen to feature the same people, with barely a narrative thread which runs between them. It’s a confusing mess, one better left unseen. Not even any of the rap is worthwhile. About the Film Critic Joe Beck Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Film news - Monster Hunter in UK Cinemas June 18th. Find out more at UK Film Review. Monster Hunter in UK Cinemas June 18th Chris Olson Friday, June 11, 2021 at 1:27:55 PM UTC Monster Hunter Only at Cinemas, June 18 Behind our world, there is another: a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that rule their domain with deadly ferocity. When an unexpected sandstorm transports Captain Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her unit (TI Harris, Meagan Good, Diego Boneta) to a new world, the soldiers are shocked to discover that this hostile and unknown environment is home to enormous and terrifying monsters immune to their firepower. In their desperate battle for survival, the unit encounters the mysterious Hunter (Tony Jaa), whose unique skills allow him to stay one step ahead of the powerful creatures. As Artemis and Hunter slowly build trust, she discovers that he is part of a team led by the Admiral (Ron Perlman). Facing a danger so great it could threaten to destroy their world, the brave warriors combine their unique abilities to band together for the ultimate showdown. MONSTER HUNTER is at UK cinemas Friday June 18 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

Ragged Heart film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Eddie Craddock, Declan Purcell directed by Evan McNary. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Ragged Heart Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Oct 28, 2022 Directed by: Evan McNary Written by: Debrah McNary, Evan McNary Starring: Eddie Craddock, Declan Purcell An aching poem to a culture that once was, Evan McNary’s indie Ragged Heart takes root in Athens, Georgia and blossoms with nostalgia, longing, grief and regret. One-time musician Wyatt Galloway (Eddie Craddock) now rambles the county with Better Day Salvage, taking the old and disused and finding ways to turn them to art. It’s an apt metaphor – though not overwrought, thanks to McNary’s light touch. Wyatt’s daughter Miranda (Willow Avalon) is the real talent. After a European tour, she’s back in Athens for her birthday and Wyatt’s hoping to reconnect. She leaves him a song, then leaves this earth. Avalon’s voice and presence echo the melancholy nature of her character, helping the film straddle the space between natural and supernatural. Craddock offers a rugged, world-weary and deeply human presence, although he’s not always charismatic enough to carry the film. A supporting cast populated by professionals and nonprofessionals, many of them musicians, contribute to the film’s authentic vibe. Joshua Mikel (The Walking Dead ) is particularly strong, embodying the conflict between music and money – the battle for a soul. Ragged Heart has the organic feel of an unscripted, evolving feature, and on the whole that works. It’s not without its rough patches, but the loose narrative structure suits a tale that values art over commerce, messy as that can be. It loses momentum more than once, mainly because of its fragmented structure, but it also consistently surprises and never loses its way. McNary’s script, co-written with sister Debrah McNary, offers no easy answers for the grief and regret Wyatt faces. Neither do they pretend that remaining true to your art will bring your joy or peace. But they definitely develop an atmosphere rich with symbolism, heady with art and music, and haunted with regret. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Matt Weiner writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Matt Weiner Matt is a freelance writer and editor with a day job in corporate buzzwords. He has a soft spot for comedies, an unhealthy (and expensive) obsession with the Criterion Collection and fervently believes that in the long run every Coen Brothers movie is a documentary. Proud member of the MaddWolf pack at maddwolf.com and UK Film Review. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews

The Pebble And The Boy film review by UK film critic Chris Olson. Starring Patrick McNamee, Sacha Parkinson, Max Boast directed by Chris Green. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Pebble And The Boy Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Chris Olson | Posted on: Aug 17, 2021 Directed by: Chris Green Written by: Chris Green Starring: Patrick McNamee, Sacha Parkinson, Max Boast An emotional road trip movie loaded with classic jams and stylish fashion, we’re going mod in the modern age with filmmaker Chris Green’s The Pebble & The Boy. Opening with some archive footage of mods on their scooters, the film quickly drops the floor for the audience with a moving funeral. We learn that the central teenage character John (Patrick McNamee) has just lost his dad - who was an ardent mod in his heyday. After the mourners have left, John attempts to grieve for a father he feels he barely knew, throwing on albums of bands like The Jam and Paul Weller (who feature heavily on the film’s soundtrack as well as the title). The next day, he is delivered his father’s Lambretta scooter from the police compound and has no clue what to do with it. He settles on a plan to ride the unimposing yet brilliantly mirror-clad vehicle from Manchester to Brighton, where he will scatter his dad’s ashes. Along the way, John (rather conveniently it must be said) gets into scrapes and breakdowns - vehicular and emotional - within a stone’s throw of either friends of his dads that go back decades, or motorcycle enthusiasts who fix his bike for free or even help him get his helmet off. After stopping at one such pitstop he picks up Nicki (Sacha Parkinson) a breath of fresh, energetic air amongst the rather dull fumes as the film kicks into a higher gear and becomes an enjoyable cruise of British adventure and coming-of-age pathos. Clearly aware of the legacy of mod-films like Quadrophenia (1979), The Pebble & The Boy manages to offset any heavy debt by keeping the film set in the present and telling a genuinely moving tale about a boy trying to uncover the mystery around his dad - all within the relevant context of the mod movement. Kicking off with the funeral was a smart touch (one reminiscent of the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)) as it instantly revealed the deeper tone of the film, a forewarning for any viewer mistaking this for just a hazy trip down memory lane. It’s not just a celebration of mod culture, music, and adventure. The storytelling keeps up the intensity with John’s central quest taking numerous swerves and curves through the British countryside. The Pebble & The Boy gets a little scruffy in the final third, relying on already-worn sequences of John’s despair and fatigue too heavily, and there is some cumbersome dialogue delivered by the array of non-important characters. This, generally, doesn’t distract from the enjoyment of the piece because the investment in the story is so strong throughout. There is a simple but effective mix of ingredients to deliver the narrative: the sombre drama, fun hijinks and comedy, as well as the road-trip movie structure which merge together like stripes on a mod jacket - the fashion in this film is worth the entry price alone. About the Film Critic Chris Olson Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Hollow film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Laura Bayston, Karl Collins, Kris Hitchen directed by Paul Holbrook. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Hollow Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Aug 25, 2021 Directed by: Paul Holbrook Written by: Paul Holbrook Starring: Laura Bayston, Karl Collins, Kris Hitchen A downbeat, hard-hitting story filled with hatred, sadness, cruelty and suffering. Laura (Bayston) is a woman who is devastated by the loss of her six-year-old daughter Lucy, who was brutally murdered by a man named Niall (Hitchen). Niall has now been released from prison and Laura cannot resist the desire to avenge Lucy's death. She seeks comfort in her friend Martin (Collins), a local vicar and they share their thoughts with each other. Martin is facing his own issues, as he is a victim of racism and is targeted by a group of youths who verbally abuse him. Meanwhile. Laura gets more and more closer to snapping and going after Niall. There is pretty much no joy in this bleak drama that deals with vengeance, racism, loss and grief. The plot focuses on two individuals who are now broken due to awful events they have endured. The sad state that Laura and Martin are in is vividly shown. Laura spends a great deal of time alone in her house struggling with her inner emotions, while Martin appears to be unable to stand up against the racist bullies. The two of them are in pain, however they have developed a strong bond between them and care about what the other is going through. The protagonists deliver great performances. Bayston is very emotional as a person who is feeling empty, following the loss of her child, has lost her faith and the only thing she seems to want now is for Niall to pay for his despicable deed. Collins is dramatic as a vicar who is gentle, kind and willing to help others and has been through a great deal of bad times. Hitchen is rather menacing in his portrayal of a dangerous, bad-tempered individual who is willing to resort to violence. The film also explores themes of religion and crosses are often shown. A flashback reveals Lucy's fears of spiders and a closeup of a black spider is seen throughout. The spider seems to represent Laura's nightmares, because her daughter was afraid of them. James Oldham does an amazing job with the cinematography and the music is tense and dramatic, adjusting very well with the atmosphere. The presence of the cheerful song 'Oh Happy Day' serves as an irony, due to the distressing themes in the film. The main subject here is one's desire to get even. The film suggests that the idea of revenge will not bring peace, but will instead create more suffering for those who pursue it. This is not a pleasant viewing, but it is a powerful story, with strong emotions and deserves a lot of praise. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Watch Coast Road at the 2022 UK Film Review Festival. See the UKFRF 2022 lineup and buy your festival pass. Coast Road Listen to our review on the film podcast What our film review said: READ FULL REVIEW There is real skill in portraying drama that flows from one premise into something entirely different. The film begins as a cosy almost nostalgic snapshot of a simple life. The coach is a microcosm of a close knit community where people lived in each other’s pockets. The death then changes the tenor and everyone on board becomes a suspect. Proudly supporting MediCinema for our 2022 film festival.

Blood Star film review by UK film critic Chris Buick. Starring Britni Camacho, John Schwab, Sydney Brumfield, Travis Lincoln Cox directed by Lawrence Jacomelli. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Blood Star Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Chris Buick | Posted on: Mar 11, 2025 Directed by: Lawrence Jacomelli Written by: Hayden Bownds, Lawrence Jacomelli, George Kelly Starring: Britni Camacho, John Schwab, Sydney Brumfield, Travis Lincoln Cox In British filmmaker Lawrence Jacomelli’s debut Blood Star , after a strong cold open to set us up nicely, we meet Bobbi (Camacho), currently putting mile after mile behind her cruising along the New Mexico black-top, driving her way back home to her abusive boyfriend, despite her sister’s desperate pleas over the phone to see sense. But Bobbi is undeterred and carries on, stopping briefly only to fill up the car where she encounters, for the first but certainly not the last time, Sherriff Bilstein (Schwab). And that first gas station encounter is when Jacomelli begins to tighten the vice on his audience, as slowly but surely Bobbi’s initial run in with the law escalates into a full-on fight for survival as the sheriff proceeds to relentlessly pursue and terrorize poor Bobbi across the state. In its first hour, Blood Star is this incredibly tense, dramatic, engaging and damn entertaining cat-and-mouse thriller that hardly puts a foot wrong. Exploring a number of themes such as violent misogyny and abuse of authoritative power, Blood Star blends a lot of good ideas with interesting characters and great visuals. Special kudos to cinematographer Pascal Combes-Knoke, the desert setting vistas in particular utilized to the fullest in capturing Bobbi’s complete isolation and helplessness as Bilstein’s maniacal and sadistic power trip refuses to let up. Strong leads are key here as well, and while Bobbi isn’t exactly the most likeable protagonist, not having your typical clean-cut victim in the driver’s seat as it were, adds a different layer to the film that gives Bobbi more authenticity, and Camacho does a stellar job in showing great depth not just in Bobbi’s moments of vulnerability but also of defiant strength and resilience. A hard-to-like heroine may be a bone of contention for some, but because Schwab’s terrifying Sheriff Bilstein is almost always the epitome of an unsettling calm, control and cold, calculated psychopath, Bobbi can afford to be imperfect and still has us very much rooting for her against Schwab’s perfectly measured and highly unsettling villain with a badge and a gun. However, where the film loses its way is right around that hour mark, where certain creative choices on how far to push the violence and gore undercut a lot of what the film is trying to talk about and the great, hard work that makes the previous sixty minutes so enjoyable. Sheriff Bilstein’s motivations and reasonings lack originality and the subsequent gruesome and uncomfortable scenes that follow take the film to a place it didn’t need to go and struggles to come back from, which is a real shame because the first hour shows that the film can be and is so much smarter than that. Blood Star is a very smart, very well put together film that due to certain choices starts to trip over itself up towards the end. Despite that, it still manages to make it home and provide quite the entertaining thrill ride along the way. Now watch Chris's Video Film Review on our YouTube Channel. Watch Blood Star Review About the Film Critic Chris Buick Indie Feature Film, Digital / DVD Release, Amazon Prime < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Watch free short films online, or watch indie films on the UK Film Channel. Be part of UK Film Review's channel too. UK Film Channel Fed up of reading our amazing film reviews ? Were our wordsmith skills too much to handle? No worries, on the UK Film Review Film Channel you can watch short films for free , view indie films online, or watch some of the best movie trailers around! The UK Film Channel now has its own home! Visit the beautiful new site here: https://www.ukfilmchannel.co.uk/ Don't forget to check out the film reviews which accompany the films, and share with your friends, who may also want to watch short films or spend their afternoons watching indie films online. This is a place of relaxation, great films and reviews, and a touch of cheeky comedy. WARNING: Many of the films found here may not be suitable for all ages and/or those with a sensitive disposition. Viewing the movies is done at your own will and UK Film Review take no responsibility for any offence or discomfort experienced. The films are not certificated and we are unable to offer guidance on this.

Watch Sometime Else at the 2022 UK Film Review Festival. See the UKFRF 2022 lineup and buy your festival pass. Sometime Else Listen to our review on the film podcast What our film review said: READ FULL REVIEW Everything in Sometime Else is well captured and well put together from the cinematography to sound editing to set design. It is especially satisfying to see Mahmoud's cafe transform from a greasy spoon to an urban brasserie in the intervening four years between memories. This continuity and attention to detail speaks to the dedication and professionalism that has gone into making this film the best it can be. Proudly supporting MediCinema for our 2022 film festival.

The SnowRaven Chronicles: The Treasure of Ockra-Bane film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring N/A directed by AJ Spencer. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The SnowRaven Chronicles: The Treasure of Ockra-Bane Film Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Jun 23, 2023 Directed by: AJ Spencer Written by: AJ Spencer Starring: N/A Many of us will have had fun in the past, perhaps in our collective youths, making some whacko nonsense on our parents computer. Something which at the time will have seemed like a masterpiece, but to anyone with even a remotely developed brain is dull, nonsensical and plainly bad. ‘The SnowRaven Chronicles: The Treasure of Ockra-Bane’ is what happens when one of those films is presented as a film rather than as just a child messing around creatively. It is, quite simply, unwatchable for the entirety of its eleven minute runtime, and you have to wonder who on earth thought any of it was a good idea. The story - though calling it that may be a stretch - involves the heroic, eponymous Lady SnowRaven (what a dreadful name!) and her quest to claim the fabled treasure of Ockra-bane, which is supposedly hidden within the ancient remnants of a long forgotten civilisation deep in the mountains of Andorra. Unfortunately for Lady SnowRaven, and for everyone watching, the film doesn’t end there, and she must fend off a series of monsters, including a swam of vengeful Vosharian (what a Vosharian is I could not tell you), before the film can finally conclude after eleven minutes that feel like an eternity. The film is animated in a style not seen since bad video games in the early 2000s, with the archaic, computer generated images used in this film not used in nearly twenty years, and for good reason. The animation style - particularly in a world in which ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ has recently been released, ‘Toy Story’ is nearly thirty years old, and ‘Steamboat Willie’ is almost one-hundred - lacks the humanity that people have imbued into animation since the practice began. Each movement feels robotic, and each character is plainly unrealistic despite obvious attempts to make them appear real. There’s a reason this kind of animation is no longer used, and that’s because technology has progressed, hell, it had already progressed thirty years ago, and it is now almost obsolete, save for a few games, and animation tools used to teach kids. The animation style is ugly and off-putting, to say the least, but even then it is far from the worst thing about this film. No, for some inexplicable reason, ‘The SnowRaven Chronicles: The Treasure of Ockra-Bane’ is voiced not by humans, but by the cold, robotic voice of a computer. A human voice, even one completely ill-suited to the film, would have served better. The A.I. cannot form a sentence without pausing at the worst times, failing to speak a single sentence clearly, as its monotonous tone guides us through the film. A further reason to reconsider the life choices that led you to watching this film is that the computer reads out the whole screenplay, and not just the dialogue, so as an animated woman with clown paint on her face and dressed only in a loose fitting overcoat and black thong does battle with a monster we are given a step-by-step narration as to the whole process. It is abysmal viewing, and, far from merely outlining the abject quality of the screenplay, elevates the coldness surrounding the film, and reinforces the sense that it lacks a human touch. ‘The SnowRaven Chronicles: The Treasure of Ockra-Bane’ is perhaps one of the worst films this critic has ever seen. It is a total failure in creativity - with the animation so inhuman and computerised that it sinks the film to beyond woeful. It is almost as though it were made entirely by A.I., and if that’s what we’ve got to look forward to in that regard then the future of cinema is looking bleaker than we all thought. NOTE FROM FILMMAKER: There are 3 versions of this short film. One is music only (no dialogue). One is dialogue & sound fx only. And one is a mix of both styles *the first 2 versions are available on Facebook/Youtube together with an invitation to "VOTE" for a preferred version with likes/comments. *The 3rd version is currently on the film festival circuit. There are 4 SnowRaven Audio Books (and Graphic Novel Adaptions). This short film is based on the 2nd book in the series (The Vosharian figure prominently in all of them). About the Film Critic Joe Beck Animation, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >