Pickleball film review by UK film critic James Learoyd. Starring Kevin Farley, Willie Mellina, Justin Sterner directed by Jeff Hamm. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Pickleball Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: James Learoyd | Posted on: May 12, 2026 Directed by: Jeff Hamm Written by: Jay Dee Walters, Justin Chaffee Starring: Kevin Farley, Willie Mellina, Justin Sterner Jeff Hamm’s Pickleball is an undeniably entertaining, though flawed and slightly old-fashioned, new feature-length comedy written by Jay Dee Walters and Justin Chaffee; starring Kevin Farley, Willie Mellina and Justin Sterner. The film takes place in a community centre where the sport of Pickleball is frequently the main attraction. After the boss of this establishment suffers a sudden and fatal heart-attack while playing the sport, it’s revealed that his frivolous spending on his girlfriend has resulted in the community centre’s financial decline. Upon returning as a wise-cracking ghost to his old priest friend (played by Farley), he insists that it’s up to his two sons to save the community centre - but the two must heal some old wounds and come to terms with one another’s polar opposite personalities if they are to succeed. It all comes down to an all-important Pickleball showdown that could rescue the space from going under. Pickleball is an absurdist comedy, through and through, yet with the occasional dramatic element sprinkled in to give the characters some grounding. The tone, overall, is slightly conflicting. For a film which is nearing two hours in length, the comedy aspect is certainly put to the test. As is the nature of any comedy, some of the jokes land and some just don’t. Its most successful instances of humour come from the heightened and fantastical scenarios –such as in the ghost of the dead manager and his flippant attitude towards being dead. On the other hand, the jokes fail when they attempt to be about current culture or modernity; bits about superficial, social-media obsessed people or gamers. These come across as awkward and clunky. In terms of the drama, there’s one superb element: the relationship between the two brothers and how it slowly develops across the movie. What begins as constant ridicule slowly turns to reflection, and for a piece so packed with jokes, their dynamic feels surprisingly natural, sincere and – in some moments – quite sad. Think what you will of the story, its characters; the humour and the runtime; but one area you can’t knock is the technical. This is an expertly photographed piece. Shot almost entirely on anamorphic lenses and defined – in great part – by dolly shots instead of handheld or Steadicam, this is deceptively slick visual work with almost no dips in quality. This critic’s one reservation is the colour-grading which, as expertly done as it is, veers into ultra-saturated territory slightly too often. But even this is purely a matter of taste and not a genuine complaint. It’s the lighting, though, which elevates all these aspects and makes this a high-end, polished product. With a superb use of balance and bounce, the entire aesthetic is made to feel glistening and cozy. The audio is also perfect in an unshowy, natural yet clearly-captured sort of way – a good example of a job being done right when you fail to notice it. To conclude, this critic enjoyed his viewing of Pickleball . For any faults on a script, tone and duration level, far far more positives can be identified in the craft and design of this farcical comedy. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic James Learoyd Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Boy in the Corner film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Cyran Vergara, Victoria Shepherd, Akil Largie, Shaun Pelayo directed by Joshy Lee. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Boy in the Corner Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Nov 27, 2022 Directed by: Joshy Lee Written by: Joshy Lee, Luciano D'Amato Starring: Cyran Vergara, Victoria Shepherd, Akil Largie, Shaun Pelayo A troubled boy gets involved with a gang of criminals. Myles (Vergara) is a quiet schoolboy, who lives with his mother (Shepherd) and little sister and spends his days hanging around with his two friends, playing basketball and practicing on his guitar. Unfortunately, he also has issues and gets into fights at school. As a result, it has been arranged for a mentor (Largie) to see him, much to Myles's annoyance. His life takes a turn for the worst when he meets a local gang who welcome him in their world and make him do illegal errands for them. This feature is a hard-hitting drama that concentrates on the life of a teenager who appears to have lost his way in life and ends up going downhill even more. Myles seems to be unhappy with his life, living in a household that has money problems, disapproving of his mother beginning a relationship. He finds joy and acceptance when he joins the gangsters, who are led by Jaime (Pelayo) and give him money and smart clothing, until he discovers that kind of life is threatening and will most likely get him killed or send him to prison. His decisions end up alienating him from the ones who care about him, including his mother and friends. The screenplay explores how unhappy individuals become part of gangs in the belief that it will lead to a better life and vividly points out that it is a path that will lead to devastating consequences. The performances are strong and Vergara is quite dramatic as a troubled and angry youth who does not talk much and gets involved with the wrong people. Shepherd is emotional as Myles's caring mother, who is deeply concenrned for his well-being and Largie does a great job as a mentor who had a troubled upbringing. In some ways, Pelayo's character serves as the antagonist, a double-faced criminal who can be friendly and also menacing. Filming was done entirey in black-and-white and the cinematography by Tamas Apor Meder creates a downbeat atmosphere. The filmmakers also make effective use of slow motion. Regarding the music by Ana Kasrashvili, it is rather dramatic and there are also a couple of rap songs. Basically, the main message of this film is that a life of crime is a mistake that only leads to bad things. It analyses the circumstances that can lead someone to turn to crime and how that affects them and those around them. Apart from crime, this is also film about self-discovery that looks into inner struggles, friendship and family values. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Monét film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring Tdjiri Yakini, Kasey Inez, Sha'quil Reeves, David Jite directed by Kyung Sok Kim. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Monét Film Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Dec 21, 2023 Directed by: Kyung Sok Kim Written by: Tdjiri Yakini Starring: Tdjiri Yakini, Kasey Inez, Sha'quil Reeves, David Jite The idea that our entire lives is predetermined and controlled by a little four-letter word called fate is both a terrifying and a comforting thought. On the one hand, it suggests that you lack the control to make your own decisions and that even those that you assume that you are making for yourself are fated. On the other hand, there is comfort in knowing that you have a path that you will remain on, no matter how lost you feel, and that even when you think that you have done something wrong, that whatever it was, was always meant to happen. ‘Monét’ explores many themes in an extremely nuanced and enthralling manner, including the idea that many people come into your life to shape your destiny. The titular Monét (played by Kasey Inez) narrates the film, beginning with the opening ideas of fate and destiny, suggesting that in our youth we have an entitled view of the world that everything will go as planned, before she suggests that every choice and every person shapes our destiny. Monét is referring to three people whom she is with at a party, her best friend Sarai (played by Tdjiri Yakini), Sarai’s boyfriend Jason (Sha’quil Reeves) whom she has a familial connection to, and Naeem, her boyfriend Naeem (David Jite). However, it is not Monét’s story that we are following, rather that of Sarai, and the aftermath of the party, where, driving back home there was a car accident, and Monét died. The film focuses on the impact that Monét’s death has on Sarai’s life. She is absent from school for a week, and when she does dare to go in, she is bullied relentlessly by a troop of three girls who repeatedly call her a murderer. Jason begins to cut ties with her, blaming Sarai for Monét’s death, perhaps not unreasonably given his position, but something that nonetheless damages the innocent Sarai. Her mental health deteriorates, with visions of Monét and flashbacks to that fateful night. Monét’s story may have ended, but her impact continues to resonate in the lives of those three whom she was with at the party, particularly Sarai, as she shapes her destiny further. Kyung Sok Kim directs the film delicately, with the camera seeming to glide through the party scenes with ease and a gentle precision, before taking a more narrow focus on Sarai, with closeups in the party’s aftermath. Kim’s directing is excellent, and only helps build the sense of intrigue leading up to the reveal of what actually happened on the night of the party that ultimately led to the car accident. This is also adeptly conveyed through Tdjiri Yakini’s screenplay, which expertly conveys the subtleties in Sarai’s feelings of guilt, hatred, and fear, following the events of that night. This wouldn’t be possible if Yakini didn’t deliver such an excellent performance herself, perfectly expressing the nuances in Sarai’s feelings through the intonations of her voice or the movements of her face. ‘Monét’ is both an intriguing film through its storyline and through its meditations on fate and how that his impacted by those around us. With sublime performances and excellent camerawork, it makes for a very impressive drama. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Plan C film review by UK film critic Rachel Willis. Starring Fracine Coeytaux directed by Tracy Droz Tragos. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Plan C Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Rachel Willis | Posted on: Oct 5, 2023 Directed by: Tracy Droz Tragos Written by: Tracy Droz Tragos Starring: Fracine Coeytaux Even before the fall of Roe v. Wade, abortion access was next to impossible for many across the United States, particularly for those in red states where legislatures worked hard to limit access as much as possible. That’s where Plan C comes in – co-founded by Elisa Wells and Francine Coeytaux, Plan C attempts to get women information and access to abortion pills – in any way possible. Tracy Droz Tragos’s documentary, Plan C , focuses on the fight to get information and access to those who need it most. The documentary begins during the height of COVID. Access to the ingredients needed to make the pills (which come mainly from India and China) was hard to come by, so the founders of Plan C took it upon themselves to encourage medical professionals to prescribe abortion pills for those in need. However, Plan C doesn’t just examine the efforts of Plan C to get Mifepristone & Misoprostol into women’s hands. The documentary also spends time examining the hypocrisy of the “pro-life” movement, from the support of family planning clinics in neighborhoods of color by politicians on the right, to the lack of outcry in Flint over lead in the water (lead causes miscarriages), to the reality for Black women in Mississippi who are 118 times more likely to die from a pregnancy than an abortion. The question raised is “whose life are you saving?” Texas is a major here, as its law, passed before the fall of Roe v. Wade, was one of the harshest in the country (Ohio’s own is currently on hold pending appeals and/or the passage of Issue 1 in November). Plan C’ s plan of action to tackle the law is to keep getting information into women’s hands. There is a sense of fear throughout the documentary, even as the women of Plan C continue their fight. There are threats of violence, even death, to those who provide abortions – and not just abortions, but information on how to obtain them. Again, it begs the question, whose life matters? Plan C acknowledges that the work has gotten harder with the revocation of Roe v. Wade, but the important takeaway is that there are many who won’t stop fighting for reproductive rights. For these women, it’s about standing up to bullies. Whether that bully is a legislature, protestors, or a group of men with guns, these women will continue the fight to ensure safe, legal abortions. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Rachel Willis Theatrical Release, Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Film news - BFI Southbank to Reopen 17th May 2021. Find out more at UK Film Review. BFI Southbank to Reopen 17th May 2021 Chris Olson Monday, April 19, 2021 at 11:30:40 AM GMT+1 The long wait has ended and the BFI Southbank will reopen to the public on the 17th of May 2021 - as long as everything goes to the plan with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in the UK. Cinemas will reopen with an exciting programme featuring Her Voice - which will focus on black female singers going from the spotlight to the screen, Robert Altman – a retrospective of the great American outsider, and Dream Palace – a celebration of the big screen, with films handpicked by Edgar Wright, Asif Kapadia, Gurinder Chadha and many more... The full programme will be on the website from Mon 26 Apr. Priority booking for BFI Patrons and Champions opens on Mon 3 May, BFI Members on Tue 4 May, and tickets will be on general sale from Thu 6 May. Find out more here: https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/bfi-southbank-reopening-programme 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

Roached film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Deeya Dey, Shiv Sharma, Nishta Sharma directed by Kshitij Sharma. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Roached Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Jun 1, 2022 Directed by: Kshitij Sharma Written by: Deeya Dey, Kshitij Sharma Starring: Deeya Dey, Shiv Sharma, Nishta Sharma I know we all went a little crazy during lockdown, but Kshitji Sharma’s Roached shows one couple whose descent into madness has a few extra legs… In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Anuradha (Deeya Dey) is isolated from her friends by her domineering husband Manav (Rudolfo Rajeev Hubert). With even Zoom chats monitored, she becomes desperate and unhappy, yet trapped like a prisoner in her own home. And the presence of a persistent cockroach trespasser is not helping. As she reaches a breaking point, supernatural her husband begins to exhibit some strange, insect-like tendencies… Experimental and unpredictable, Roached is both a grounded lockdown drama detailing the trauma of abusive relationships, and a psychological body-horror that reaches into supernatural and metaphorical storytelling. Filmed in India and presented in Hindi, the film manages to relate itself to the audience thanks to the gritty and grounded portrayal of a terrorising husband who slowly shrinks his wife’s already isolated world during the pandemic, and her dilemma between limited options. The film’s shift towards horror may move the story into the outlandish, but the characters and their motives remain all too human and empathetic. The film’s presentation is impressive and lively – despite being largely set within the same household for the majority of the runtime. Kshitji Sharma excellently shrinks the home as the film develops – closing Anuradha further into her husband’s orbit and upping the claustrophobia. The initial opening of a four-way zoom call both establishes the setting and Anuradha’s personal circumstances as she is dragged away by Manav. As the plot becomes more and more abstract, the presentation of a pivotal dilemma for Anuradha is handled in a heart-pounding manner. There are a few hiccups with prop design at moments, and Rudolfo Hubert’s insect-imitation feels a little lacking and could have benefitted from better framing, but given the film’s smaller budget, it largely outperforms expectations. Deeya Dey and Rudolfo Hubert thrive in the leading roles and share fantastic chemistry. Hubert is the definition of uncaring sleaze – playing king in his own castle and demanding his wife’s subservience. Dey meanwhile captures the distress and fear of an abused partner perfectly – aware of her trappings but defensive of her husband when challenged, in a devastating and sympathetic performance. The complexity Anuradha is captured well, and leads to a genuinely tense and original conclusion in which she finds herself in a position of power, yet still battling her husband’s influence. The film is incredibly abstract and amplifies this side of itself in its second half to a degree that will catch some viewers out. These developments elevate the film from a well-crafted but now-cliched lockdown film to something truly original. The explanation for these events ends up unsatisfying, before a classic but tired horror twist closes things out. For a film that is so inventive, it is a little bit of a damp ending – though not one that damages the ultimate theme or message of the film. Roached certainly leaves an impression, and its inventive storytelling will be left crawling around in your head long after watching. You’ll be bugging people to check this one out… Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Shhhhh film review by UK film critic Charlotte Spark . Starring Charlotte Barnes , Teagan O'Brein directed by Geoff Harmer. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Shhhhh Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Charlotte Spark | Posted on: Aug 8, 2026 Directed by: Geoff Harmer Written by: Geoff Harmer, Teagan O'Brien Starring: Charlotte Barnes , Teagan O'Brein Directed by Geoff Harmer who also co-wrote the short alongside Teagan O’Brien who also stars in the short. Geoff has previously directed a lot of segments in anthology horror series such as Virus Detected (2023) and Video Shop Tales Of Terror (2023). He has also been directing short films since 1994. Getting what you wish for isn't all that it seems. Our protagonist is a nameless content creator who we meet doing sponsorships full of buoyancy when addressing fans, getting people to like and subscribe. We have all followed or stumbled across videos and online personalities just like this. We then get glimpses into our protagonist's real life but it's not as technicolor as it seems in her videos when she's all alone. The switch in personality when on screen takes a dark turn, when fans become too close finding her location, following her, harassing her she asks simply to be left alone. But those very words get twisted and have fatal consequences. The performances in this short were very strong as the main protagonist is our main focal point. You really need somebody that can carry the screen and hold the audience's attention. Charlotte Barnes was great at switching between that over the top influencer mode into tense quiet sequences being followed around her home.The inner turmoil as a viewer you get for balancing between the protagonist being toxic and not understanding to her fans. Or are the fans simply taking things too far. Which is an absolute credit to the actress Charlotte Barnes as you really feel torn. Alongside Teagan O'Brein who plays a fan who takes what the influencer says very personally. The editing by Geoff Harmer himself was great especially in those moments where it gets very suspenseful. At times I almost felt like looking away from the screen anticipating a jumpscare at any moment. Hand in hand with a gripping soundtrack composed by Tyler Lawton-Bryant Also there was an interesting choice: when getting a glimpse of her at home the camera almost glitches and comes across like the film in the camera is burning away. It adds to the duality of her online personality and her dealing with the consequences of her actions. At the heart of Shhh it’s really about how our words hold so much weight and power when she's asking to be left alone. One of her fans takes it so literally that she doesn't love her and wants her to be silent forever. It's a very relevant subject matter today as it’s constantly in the news how celebrities are being stalked and how they say one thing and it costs them their whole career. I highly recommend checking out this short. I was invested from the beginning and glued to the screen. It handles its subject matter well and audiences will be left conflicted when the credits roll. Mixed with the classic troupe of someone alone in a house being stalked by an unknown entity or person throughout but with a twist. I feel like it could easily be turned into a feature length and explore this narrative more. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Charlotte Spark Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Film news - A Perfect Enemy confirmed for UK Digital Release. Find out more at UK Film Review. A Perfect Enemy confirmed for UK Digital Release Chris Olson Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 11:49:30 AM GMT+1 Psychological thriller A Perfect Enemy confirmed for UK Digital Release Smart Dog Productions is thrilled to announce that the psychological thriller A Perfect Enemy will be available in the UK on Amazon, Google and iTunes from 5th July. Based on the book by Amélie Nothomb, The Enemy’s Cosmetique , and directed by Kike Maíllo, the film stars Tomasz Kot (Cold War ), Athena Strates (The Good Liar ) and Marta Nieto (Madre ). A successful architect Jeremy Angust is approached on his trip to Paris by a strange young woman who will not leave him alone. Missing his flight and trapped in the airport lounge he is unable to get rid of the annoying stranger. Although the meeting at first seems to be by chance, soon there is a turn that will transform the nature of their encounter into something much more sinister and criminal. Speaking about the film, Director Kike Maíllo said; "In an era when we are permanently exhibiting ourselves, with "A Perfect Enemy" I wanted to talk about the monsters we keep in the closet. About the sins we try to hide from others and ourselves. Those faults that we sweep under the carpet hoping that no one will ever be able to uncover them." A Perfect Enemy will be available on Digital Download from 5th July on Amazon, Google & iTunes 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

Truth Serum film review by UK film critic Chris Olson. Starring Olivia Vinall, Killian Coyle, Richard Gadd directed by Vika Evdokimenko. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Truth Serum Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Chris Olson | Posted on: Jul 29, 2024 Directed by: Vika Evdokimenko Written by: Oliver Shuster Starring: Olivia Vinall, Killian Coyle, Richard Gadd Hosting the perfect house-warming party becomes damn-near impossible for couple Abbie and Matt (Olivia Vinall and Killian Coyle respectively) when their liability of a friend Jimmy (Baby Reindeer’s Richard Gadd) unknowingly spikes the ice with an illicit blue substance causing everyone who consumes it to tell the truth. Written by Oliver Shuster and directed by Vika Evdokimenko, short film Truth Serum has a lot of strengths to play to. The concept is sharp and cheeky, the cast is a plethora of excellent acting talent, and the atmosphere of reserved British chaos creates an enjoyably unpredictable, fresh experience for viewers. Sadly, the film never knows quite what to do with all these elements and punts for a haphazard and hazy affair that is still a very enjoyable romp. By using a splatter-gun approach to the honest revelations, viewers may find themselves struggling to keep up with the pace of the truth-telling. The disorder is further enhanced by numerous characters having rather intriguing backstories, such as a man who pretended he was infertile, and a woman who steals candles. There is a rush that comes from watching Truth Serum that is energising as long as you attend in good spirits. Vinall and Coyle are excellent in their leading roles and find themselves supported by a great array of performers. Gadd is electric as the coke-snorting f-boy whose trail of carnage gets upended in a poignant, if rushed, character revelation in the latter stages of the movie. Hats off to Sophy Kennedy Clark who plays Vera, best friend to Abbie, who has some of the best lines at other people’s expense, as well as her own emotional journey to confront. The music choices are terrific, leading the audience through a soft yet whimsical start and through the necessary turmoil and into an arresting calm by the final sections of the short film. One of the songs, “Truth Be Told” even had director Vika Evdokimenko’s name listed in the credits. It’s Smog’s “Truth Serum” which feels the most powerful though, a perfect addition to the movie, not least for its titular twinning. Whilst audiences are likely to come away from a viewing of Truth Serum with more questions than answers, they can’t deny the experience was refreshing. The reckless abandon to our social cues provides a fabulous arena for our true selves to be unleashed and the smorgasbord of offbeat characters cooked up by Oliver Shuster are as delicious as they are worrying. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Chris Olson Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Urban Vengeance film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Will Martin, Kelvin Girdy, Gabe Shebesta, Victoria Lydia Rodriguez, Carson Goldsmith directed by Will Martin. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Urban Vengeance Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Feb 5, 2025 Directed by: Will Martin Written by: Will Martin Starring: Will Martin, Kelvin Girdy, Gabe Shebesta, Victoria Lydia Rodriguez, Carson Goldsmith A dark comedy action feature written and directed by Will Martin and starring himself and Gabe Shebesta, Victoria Lydia Rodriguez, Kelvin Girdy and Carson Goldsmith. Jack Urban (Martin) is a high-school student living in Austin, texas and he also fights crime like some sort of vigilante. And he tends to do so with his skateboard. The city that he lives in is being torn apart by crime and his sister (Goldsmith) was murdered by a local gang leader known as The King (Girdy). Now, along with his friend, Blind (Shebesta) and a girl named Dorothy (Rodriguez), Jack must battle crime and corruption and put an end to The King's illegal activities and avenge his sister. A teenaged boy who uses his skateboard to fight criminals. Cool concept. And it certainly is fun watching him as he hits bad guys with his skateboard and sometimes shoots them with guns. There are plenty of action scenes, be it hand-to-hand combat, firing guns, car chases, motorcycle chases and (of course) skateboard chases. It is quite a ride. Apart from the action, the screenplay focuses on exploring the characters and developing the story. The cinematography by Chad Treanor and the electronic music by Derlis A. Gonzalez create an atmosphere that generates a sort of 70's or early 80's feeling, which is intriguing. The production quality indicates that the budget was low and the acting in general is not very convincing. Plus, the script is unrealistic, particularly regarding the action scenes, where, for instance one character fights off multiple rivals and a youngster going up against dangerous criminals is not a plot that can be taken seriously. Nevertheless, these aspects do not really damage the film as this is not a viewing that needs to be taken seriously and rather, enjoyed as an action/revenge story. The characters are interesting. Jack is the hero. A brave, tough young guy who dislikes school. His mission is to take down the one responsible for his sister's death, however, he is also a bit of a loner and has negative perspectives regarding the world. Girdy plays the antagonist, a ruthless criminal, the typical action movie bad guy. Dorothy is a tough girl, whose role is that of an ally to Jack, while Blind could be described as Jack's eccentric sidekick. Primarily, this is a story about crime, especially gang activities and corruption. Through Jack's character, the film also explores revenge, loss, alienation and fighting for justice. A low-budget feature filled with action and criminals. Arguably, the action scenes are the highlight, but the plot and the characters contribute significantly in making this an amusing viewing. Overall, this is a fun action film that is likely to appeal to those who like fight scenes, chases and skateboards. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Valley Of The Shadow film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Bill Oberst Jr. directed by Tyler Smith. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Valley Of The Shadow Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: May 15, 2022 Directed by: Tyler Smith Written by: Reed Lackey and Tyler Smith Starring: Bill Oberst Jr. The conservative Christian community of America has a long-standing tradition of censorship. Currently they are succeeding in censoring women's bodies and denying them the civil liberty of making their own choices in relation to abortion. Historically this community have also been at the forefront of calls for book bans in local libraries and places of education, censoring the world around them, for themselves and for others, under the guise of keeping their children safe and their communities free from sin. Falling alongside these forms of dogmatic control has also been the outspoken pronouncement of certain types of film to be blasphemous, sinful or just downright evil. This includes, but is in no way restricted to, their most reviled genre – horror. You may ask yourself how anyone could have any moral or religious objection to the likes of Harry Potter , The Lord Of The Rings or The Pirates Of The Caribbean , but to the conservative Christian community the unnatural conjuration of magic, the elevation of alternative races such as dwarves and elves, and the battling of the undead, pirates or otherwise, are all seen to be against God and therefore driven by Satan. While this might be a stretch for most people to comprehend, it is perhaps easier to see why this community might be averse to horror, which deals more directly with demons, cults, possessions, idol worship, ritual sacrifice or indeed the opening of the gates of Hell. The symbolism itself would be enough to have them reaching for their crucifix. So, it is by no mean feat that film-maker Tyler Smith has decided to reach out to this community, his own, and try to educate them on the merits, and even benefits, of this most misunderstood of genres. In his second Christian community aimed film Valley Of The Shadow: The Spiritual Value Of Horror , (the first being Reel Redemption (2020) which looked at specifically Christian films' place within the wider diaspora) Smith wants to bust open the myths and the untruths of horror and explain why the dark imagery and gruesome happenings have value in strengthening an individual's connection to God or Jesus. Bill Oberst Jr., veteran actor of nearly two hundred films – most of which stem from the horror genre, and self professed 'man of faith', is our narrator and guide on this journey. His inclusion is meant to put the average Christian conservative at ease, being as he is someone who doesn't find contradiction between his profession and his religion, and his soft voice soothes the way into the discussion of horror as he creeps through ruins and undergrowth and perches within the crooks of trees. He speaks the words of Smith and co-writer Reed Lackey's script, but this could be his own personal introspection of just how useful horror can be in allowing us to face our fears and 'shine a light in the darkness'. Over the next two hours and twenty-six minutes, Bill leads us through almost the entire gamut of English speaking horror as Smith and Lackey try to make their points, dividing the genre into four distinct sub-sections and dealing with each in turn. The Unstoppable, The Inevitable, The Abominable and The Unknowable are supposedly what we are looking at when we watch a horror film and it is these things which strike the fear into us, when dogmatically the only fear we are allowed to have, is the fear of God. Within each section Smith and Lackey explain where the fear comes from and provide endless examples from film history to show this in action. The feeling engendered from this kind of extended show-reeling at first starts off as interesting and at times exciting, but very quickly as the viewer realises that this is going to be the entire extent of the discussion, turns into apathy and then eventually boredom. Basically what results is a documentary of horror film history rather than a spiritual, philosophical or intellectual discussion of the points these films raise. If, for example, once you've said that horror crocodiles instil fear because they keep on coming and are therefore 'Unstoppable', then show a clip from a scary crocodile movie, is it then necessary to show myriad clips from every scary crocodile movie ever just to keep saying that Unstoppable things scare us; then to repeat this ad nauseam with sharks, spiders, snakes, serial killers etc. etc. etc.? Sadly this is all we get from each section of the documentary with Smith and Lackey continually hammering their point home that certain things scare us, and ultimately in the end only really telling us that we're scared of death, disease and having our comfortable lives overturned. Only in the final section of The Unknowable is God or The Devil really even mentioned and even then they get lost in the mist alongside talk of ghosts and other beyond the grave scenarios. The viewer has to wait until the last twenty or so minutes of the film to discover what Smith and Lackey have been driving at all this time, when finally there is a link between all we have been shown and how this can be used to strengthen faith or recognise more completely the legacy of Jesus' sacrifice. Ultimately though this feels like it's just been tacked on at the end and shoehorned in to keep the Christian producers happy at spending their money on this horror retrospective. There is a lot of deep horror knowledge in Valley Of The Shadow but unfortunately not much idea of what to do with it. As an introduction to horror for the uninitiated it works well, with almost every facet of the genre getting some airing on screen, but as a discussion – spiritual, religious or otherwise – it falls flat with no real take-away other than it's okay to face our fears, and of course, only to be fearful of God. If you're looking for a more valuable, concise discourse on the actual components, themes and meanings of horror films you'd have a far better time watching Mark Kermode's Secrets Of Cinema. At least there you might get some answers. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Hemingway Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Fallen Angel film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring James Harris directed by James Harris. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Fallen Angel Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Nov 16, 2023 Directed by: James Harris Written by: James Harris Starring: James Harris Ostensibly, Fallen Angel is a five-minute short film from writer and director James Harris – at least that’s what it says on the tin. But when is a film with your name on it not exactly your own film? Probably when it’s made like this. The footage which makes up Fallen Angel , you see, wasn’t originally shot for the purpose in which it is now being used. Everything that Harris has cobbled together for his five-minute piece was rescued from the cutting room floor of another project, Paradise Lost, History In The Unmaking (2021) which was directed by Andy Howlett and shot by his cinematographers Matt Watkins and Martin McNally. Granted, the footage used does feature James Harris as the titular Fallen Angel but really everything we see was shot by different film-makers for another purpose. It then doesn’t help that everything on screen, although intended for use in the Paradise Lost… project, is a very close replica of the Wim Wenders classic, Wings Of Desire (1987) right down to the lost angel in fluffy wings wearing a suit. The theme/plot is also strikingly similar as Harris then tacks his poetry on top to suggest that said angel is having a tough time of things in immortality and is beginning to wonder if there isn’t something better than eternity between the worlds of Heaven and Hell. In fact the whole thing smacks so much of the German classic that Fallen Angel does a better job of aping it than the weird ass American remake with Nicolas Cage, City Of Angels (1998). So just what has Harris done to make this film his? Well, he’s saved the footage for one, and he has reconstituted and edited it to suit his new/borrowed narrative of little angel lost. He has added some postmodern brutalist soundscaping from Snowkitten, who provide some electrosynth noise as a backdrop to the postmodern brutalist setting of beneath Spaghetti Junction; and he has written the aforementioned poem to describe his plot/theme which he reads over the top of his newly stitched together shots. So, quite a bit then, and undoubtedly enough for him to call this Frankenstein’s monster of a short film his own. But is it any good? Sadly, the answer is no. Forgetting all of the difficulties and abortions which constitute the birthing of this creation, the main problem Fallen Angel has, like Frankenstein’s monster, is in identifying itself. Coming in at under five minutes and having no dialogue; is it a music video, a visual poetry slam, a short film, an art piece, an homage, or really just a mess? Perhaps merely as a showcase it might work but then the poetry itself would have to be good – which it isn’t. Sure, Harris can rhyme but he ends up falling into the trap of turgid theosophising by continually asking questions rather than actually saying anything. While some of the visuals are nice we have definitely seen their like before and Harris has added nothing new to the ‘Angel on Earth’ story with this effort. All credit to him for trying to reclaim something that was lost but in reality all that he found was something that was already there. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Hemingway Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >