The Abyss Below film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Tommy Carmichael, Naomi Richards, Steve Huggins directed by Jack Turner. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Abyss Below Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Dec 19, 2025 Directed by: Jack Turner Written by: Jack Turner Starring: Tommy Carmichael, Naomi Richards, Steve Huggins A short supernatural horror film written and directed by Jack Turner and starring Tommy Carmichael, Naomi Richards and Steve Huggins. An injured woman (Richards) dials 999, telling the dispatcher that her son, Samuel (Carmichael) attacked her and she knocked him unconscious in self-defence. However, it is soon revealed that is not the case, as Samuel is actually lying on the kitchen floor, dead, with multiple stab wounds. His mother killed him. Then, Samuel wakes up in the forest, in a state of shock, having presumably died and entered the afterlife. After walking around for a while, he encounters a middle-aged man (Huggins), who claims to be his father, Lucius, who passed away a long time ago. Following an emotional reunion, Lucius tells his son that he must make a choice: stay with his father or return to the world of the living and confront his mum. A tense and dark story that begins as a thriller about domestic violence before entering the supernatural. One rather evident feature is the eerie and ominous music by Lennie Stanford that creates a feeling of tension throughout the film. The plot is quite intriguing and keeps holding the viewer's attention over eleven dramatic minutes, with murder, reunion in life after death and revenge dominating the narrative. Although sometimes the acting is not very convincing, generally, it is decent. Carmichael plays a youngster who has fallen victim to his mother's murderous intentions and finds solace and happiness by being with his father. However, he appears to be a person who cannot leave the past behind. Huggins' character comes across as a loving father, who might also have a hidden dark side. Richards portrays a woman who pretty much serves as the story's villain, a disturbed woman who seems to be homicidal. Murder is what primarily drives the plot, particularly filicide and mariticide. The film explores mother-and-son and father-and-son relationships and provides its version of the afterlife and also acknowledges domestic violence, self-reflection, reminiscing the past and choices. Furthermore, it appears to be stated that revenge leads to bad consequences. This short can be appreciated for the themes that it explores and it can also be viewed for the interesting plot. Overall, this is a film that is gripping from start to finish. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

No Stars Anymore film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Magdalena Kozikowska-Pienko directed by Lukasz Rog. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS No Stars Anymore Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Oct 30, 2021 Directed by: Lukasz Rog Written by: Lukasz Rog Starring: Magdalena Kozikowska-Pienko One night, a female member of the S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons And Tactics) forces goes on a mission along with her team, leading them towards very sinister occurrences. Jemma (Pienko) is a lonely woman who is a S.W.A.T. Team Member and she believes that the world is coming to an end. One evening, she joins her unit in investigating certain locations that include a household, a warehouse and a field where there is a small fire burning and a screcrow that includes the skull of a horned cattle. Eventually it becomes apparent that they are going up against dark and dangerous forces. This short dramatic sci-fi is Rog's directorial big screen debut, which was shot and made entirely by himself and it was filmed in the city of Rzeszow, Poland. Visually, the film is quite dark, with many scenes taking place during night-time and in locations that have limited lighting. The majority of this forty-minute film is spent following the S.W.A.T. team as they search the designated areas, wearing their uniform and body armor and holding their firearms that contain torches. They spend a great deal of time walking around and inspecting and there is suspense as they keep on, not knowing what they are going to encounter. Generally, the atmosphere is rather mysterious throughout. Pienko makes her big screen acting debut in her role as a person who seems to be confused and sad. Although she is the main character, when she joins her team, due to the fact that they all wear the same uniform and look alike, she blends in with them and in a way the whole squad becomes the protagonist. Speech is limited in this film and as far as the audio goes, it is the music that takes over, which is haunting, mesmerising and dynamic, accompanying the images effectively. Rog does a great job as director and creates terrific aerial shots of buildings and landscapes. There is also a well-constructed montage consisting of news footage that shows riots and makes good use of fast cutting. This accomplishment offers an interesting and intriguing experience. The story, score and atmosphere make this short film an admirable achievement that is worth pursuing. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Twofold film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring Phoebe Campbell, Rebecca Calder, Clinton Blake directed by Ella Greenwood. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Twofold Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Apr 30, 2023 Directed by: Ella Greenwood Written by: Toto Bruin Starring: Phoebe Campbell, Rebecca Calder, Clinton Blake A scintillating film of lost love, ‘Twofold’ moves at breakneck speed, a rush of love and anger that are only real in films. Yet, while it certainly goes beyond the realms of believability, it progresses confidently forward, and takes us with it on a delightfully heartbreaking and passion-fuelled rollercoaster. Shot gorgeously in one sweeping take, it is testament to the talents of director Ella Greenwood and her actors Phoebe Campbell, Rebecca Calder and Clinton Blake that at no stage does the film ever lose its edge of drop a beat. Greenwood directs with a kind of poise unusual to such a film, and as she sensually moves the camera in towards the actors, who are ever leaning closer and closer, she captures the raw intensity of their emotions, and butterflies in their stomachs. Only when Matthew (Clinton Blake) casually strolls into the frame is this intensity interrupted and a lesser director would have lowered the standard of their camerawork at this point, yet Greenwood maintains a firm grasp on the camera, maintaining the intimacy of previous scenes, so that you feel that Matthew’s presence really is an interruption, rather than just an excuse to give the actors and director some rest from the gruelling one-take. Campbell and Calder are exquisitely matched as the conflicting souls of Allie and Erin respectively. The two possess a magnetic chemistry which makes their simmering romance, and desolate past together seem all the more real, allowing you to forgo any sense that just maybe things are moving a little too fast. Allie and Erin are at a party celebrating the New Year’s festivities, or, more precisely, Allie is working while Erin is a guest, when the two meet downstairs in the kitchen. The dim lighting as Allie shocks Erin, who is stealing a drink, immediately sets the mood, and the characters run with that intimacy, until a shocking revelation takes the film in an unexpectedly curious direction. With a twist that surely M. Night Shyamalan would be proud of, Toto Bruin’s screenplay is a curious beast. On the one hand, it expertly sets the scene and creates tension through the weight of a word that oozes off the screen. On the other, it is too direct, with subtext either not there, or weakly convening a point, which doesn’t help the overall sense that ‘Twofold’ is in a hurry to reach its conclusion. This wouldn’t be a problem, and often happens in one-take films, if it weren’t for the fact that it leaves points carelessly glossed over, when they should be explored further with just a few extra lines. Nevertheless, ‘Twofold’ is mesmerising and haunting in equal regard, in a manner which takes you by surprise yet never feels too rogue. There’s something beautiful in its rushed expression and outpouring of wild emotive passion - and this goes through a whole range of emotions - which is captured through Ella Greenwood’s lens with an equal enthusiasm, tempered with a restraint which only amplifies both the intimacy and aggression that Phoebe Campbell and Rebecca Calder display with a sense of potency. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Monkey Enters Lanka film review by UK film critic Isabelle Ryan. Starring Dhvel Patel, Carmen Rain Lykoo, Saie S Surendra directed by Saie Surendra. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Monkey Enters Lanka Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Isabelle Ryan | Posted on: Jan 14, 2022 Directed by: Saie Surendra Written by: Saie Surendra Starring: Dhvel Patel, Carmen Rain Lykoo, Saie S Surendra “The world’s fastest growing crime is abduction and human trafficking.” Saie Surendra’s award-winning short film opens with this sobering fact. It prepares the audience for a dark, realistic look at the crime before launching into a retelling of a section of the Sanskrit epic Rāmāyanam. In fact, the credits reveal that this was only one of six inspirations. Surendra acknowledges at the film’s opening that this story has been told many times, and as such his version may not be the one we have heard before. The story of Hanuman, the formidable simian disciple of the great Lord Rama, exists in many forms. Shades of Wu Cheng’en’s Journey to the West , another inspiration here, can be found in Akira Toriyama’s manga Dragon Ball . In this version, Hanuman (voiced by Surendra) has been tasked with tracking down Sita (Carmen Rain Lykoo), Rama’s beloved wife. Along with hundreds of women from across the world, Sita has been abducted by the tyrant Ravana (Dhvel Patel). His designs on Sita are clear, but Ravana has been cursed by a previous victim; if he tries to rape someone, he will burst into flames. As he attempts to convince Sita to submit to him and forget her husband, Hanuman lies in wait. The most compelling aspect of the film is its combining of 3D animation and live action. Hanuman is entirely computer generated, as are much of the backgrounds and environments. The fight scenes get the same treatment. The human characters, meanwhile, are played by live actors (except when Hanuman needs opponents to quickly dispatch). Surendra oversaw the VFX, while the 3D environments were created by Nazar Daniyel, Pefro Roque, Victor Gomez, Hoang Nguyen and Kían Kreikamp. The decision is a fascinating one, and for the most part it works. Hanuman looks fittingly uncanny – he is of course a god among men – but while the humans he faces would be outmatched either way, it is a little disappointing to see fights won so easily, with no sense of danger for the protagonist. In any case, Monkey Enters Lanka won the Best VFX award at Best Istanbul Film Festival and Anatolia International Film Festival, as well as Best Experimental Film at Screen Power Film Festival in London. Unfortunately, the film struggles in other technical aspects. There are moments when, despite the heavily rendered 3D environments, it is abundantly clear that scenes were shot outside; the microphone picks up wind sounds easily, muffling the characters’ words. Andrii Brynzak’s music, while suitably rousing, plays too loudly in some dialogue scenes. It must be said, though, that the singers – from the Chinese lead Jennifer Ong to the choir – are fantastic. The acting throughout is fittingly melodramatic, though the film’s message seems somewhat unclear. The curse placed upon Ravana is not fully explored, but the film appears to suggest that simply ‘submitting’ to someone is the same as giving consent. Surely Ravana would still burst into flames even if Sita didn’t fight back? In addition, Rama (who we briefly see towards the film’s end) is viewed by Sita and the other women as an example of what a man should be. However, she explains to Ravana that while he sees women as ‘objects’, Rama sees them as ‘goddesses’. The problem here is that, either way, women end up objectified. Sita and the other women are either viewed as objects for Ravana’s sexual pleasure, or as untouchable, divine beings; and in both cases, their personalities and agency are secondary at best. Monkey Enters Lanka takes inspiration from many classic tales. Saie Surendra has updated the medium but, unfortunately, not the message. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Isabelle Ryan Short Film, Animation, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Eenie Meanie film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Samara Weaving, Karl Glusman, Andy Garcia directed by Shawn Simmons. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Eenie Meanie Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Aug 21, 2025 Directed by: Shawn Simmons Written by: Shawn Simmons Starring: Samara Weaving, Karl Glusman, Andy Garcia Remember how great Cleveland looked in Superman ? Writer/director Shawn Simmons takes us back to The Land, as well as to Toledo, for his thriller set among Ohio’s low rent criminal underbelly, Eenie Meanie . It’s not exactly as tourism friendly as Superman . Samara Weaving is Edie, and when we meet her, she’s really struggling to make something of her life. A day job as a bank clerk, night classes, maxed out credit cards, bleary nights studying. And then her one mistake—she stops by to share some news with her ex, John (Karl Glusman, The Bikeriders, Watcher ). But John’s gotten himself into some trouble. And try as she might to leave him and his trouble behind, the semi-fatherly crime lord she used to work for (Andy Garcia, delightful) will kill John unless Edie saves him. And to do that, she falls back on some old skills as a getaway driver in a big score. Simmons has crafted a fun, twisty, funny thriller full of sharp turns. Weaving effortlessly carries the film as the tenderhearted badass who knows better. Glusman is infuriatingly excellent as that epic dumbass you want to smack but can’t help but hug. And maybe also smack. Solid support from Garcia, Steve Zahn, Mike O’Malley, and Randall Park fills every scene with laughs, pathos, violence, and fun. But it’s the sly way Simmons braids together tales of co-dependence, trauma, loyalty, and resilience that gives Eenie Meanie unexpected heft. Weaving has proven her genre moxie again and again (Ready or Not , Mayhem, The Babysitter, Guns Akimbo, Azrael ), so it comes as no surprise that she brings the goods as the lead in an action comedy thriller. What’s impressive is the honesty and the genuine emotional conflict she expresses within this relationship. She and Glusman revel in the dysfunction, played for exasperated laughs in the early going. But as Simmons tale develops, unveiling more of their relationship and backstory, that same chemistry takes on a relevance and power that allows Eenie Meanie to deliver a climax more powerful than you might expect. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Hope Madden Digital / DVD Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Blossom film review by UK film critic Chris Olson. Starring Vasilis Prekas, Zoi Theodoropoulou directed by Achilles Tsoutsis. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Blossom Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Chris Olson | Posted on: Jun 8, 2024 Directed by: Achilles Tsoutsis Written by: Achilles Tsoutsis, Alexandros Moustas Starring: Vasilis Prekas, Zoi Theodoropoulou Dedicated to filmmaker Michael Cacoyannis, Blossom is a short film that celebrates the easy relationship between theatre and film. Written by Alexandros Moustas and Achilles Tsoutsis (with the latter directing), this 8-minute short film is all about being inspired by both art forms. Vasilis Prekas plays Michael, a lawyer who harbours a silent passion for becoming a film director. After attending a play and a chance encounter with actress Elle (Zoe Theodoropoulou), whom he helps with some contract issues, Michael feels inspired to go and make his movie. Whilst he feels anxious about the prospect, Elle consoles Micheal by telling him to dance if he “digs it” - just get out there and dance. Blossom is a short film told with warmth and love for both theatre and film. There is a respectful nature to the characters and how they interact. The chemistry between Elle and Michael is excellent, even if we only get a short time with both characters, with the actors delivering a memorable sequence with a stunning backdrop during one particular scene. There is some nice character development and points for the audience to get a deeper understanding placed within the movie. We get to see Michael’s humdrum office life, and Elle refers to her discontent about needing to work in a cafe in order to support her theatre career, and these are essential in building a worthwhile connection with the viewer, Tsoutsis shows confidence in letting scenes breathe when they need to, or utilising techniques such as montage to help tell this compact tale. By delivering a film about inspiration and following your dreams with such short but sharp tenacity, it’s an impressive piece that will likely connect with a broad audience. That’s not to say it couldn’t have been expanded, there was definitely scope to further this story and to delve deeper into each character’s history and future, but that would perhaps diminish the impact of the film’s message about how such a small encounter could make such a large difference to someone’s life. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Chris Olson Short Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Jake & Pete’s Christmas Special film review by UK film critic William Curzon. Starring Luke Marley, Taylor Taberner, Kaitlyn Walker directed by Luke Marley. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Jake & Pete’s Christmas Special Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: William Curzon | Posted on: Dec 4, 2025 Directed by: Luke Marley Written by: Luke Marley, Taylor Taberner Starring: Luke Marley, Taylor Taberner, Kaitlyn Walker Jake & Pete’s Christmas Special follows the titular characters in their small town in Gloucestershire, when the spirit of Christmas seems to have left. Jake and Pete must find a way to restore it in time for Christmas, just around the corner. Heavily reminiscent of South Park (1997-), the piece even pays loving homage to the series as it clearly wears its influences on its sleeve with its deeply raunchy and absurd comedic elements. One of the most endearing qualities of the piece is the gorgeous animation, which suits the tone and setting perfectly for the Winter season in Gloucestershire. Its animation is predominantly impressive to witness despite its budget limitations. The film also surprisingly feels incredibly grounded, given the absurd nature of the more fantastical elements of the narrative. However, the use of a visualisation of gameplay implemented into the animation can look bizarre and unnatural, ultimately detracting from the film’s style. Specific pieces of dialogue are also delivered inadequately due to the use of subdued voice acting, which detracts from the experience. While many of the comedic gags effectively land, the raunchy dialogue becomes grating and repetitive towards the end, despite its limited runtime. However, the live coverage sequences are mostly brilliant as they employ social commentary on the current state of the cost-of-living crisis within the UK. The piece feels profoundly British within its iconography and references, which may not resonate with audiences outside the UK as much. It's accompanied by a lovely Winter backdrop, which is integral to the narrative and again feels heavily inspired by South Park. The central three characters, Pete (Taylor Taberner), Jake (Luke Marley) and Beth (Kaitlyn Walker), all work well together with fun onscreen chemistry as their banter and charm are the driving point of the experience. On the other hand, specific supporting players are deeply unlikeable due to their absurd and misogynistic nature. While the social commentary is justly impactful in its attempt at darkly comedic satire, many of the gags come off as problematic and sometimes uncomfortable to digest as a viewer. The film can also lose some steam towards the conclusion, thanks to how stilted and awkward the central conflict between characters feels at times. Its narrative amounts to just minor, with a lack of character development for either Jake or Pete, and their bizarre motives don't give the audience enough reason to care enough about where they eventually end up. The performances across the board are solid, in particular Kaityn Walker, who portrays Beth. She is ultimately the heart and soul of the narrative and a far more likeable leading player than Jake and Pete. Another major standout is the use of music, which is effectively implemented throughout to fit the tone and Christmas setting. This is a prime example of a piece of filmmaking that may resonate with a target demographic of teenagers for repeat viewings, thanks to its provocative and edgy humour. Jake & Pete’s Christmas Special is a fun and endearing comedic piece with an effective splice of social commentary regarding the state of the cost-of-living crisis in the UK. While it may suffer from bizarre creative decisions in the art direction and insensitive jabs at creative talent in the film industry, it draws on well-loved influences to deliver a charming Christmas delight. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Curzon Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Little Jar film review by UK film critic Christie Robb. Starring Kelsey Gunn directed by Dominic López. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Little Jar Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Christie Robb | Posted on: Sep 11, 2023 Directed by: Dominic López Written by: Kelsey Gunn, Dominic López Starring: Kelsey Gunn Cast your mind back to the lockdown phase of the COVID pandemic. Spring of 2020. When office folks were sent home to hastily assemble a workspace in some relatively unused area of the house. When you figured you might as well open a bottle of wine at two in the afternoon on a Wednesday. When you weren’t entirely sure if you were living in the apocalypse or not. If you were an introvert, like Ainsley the main character of the movie Little Jar , you may have initially been pleased, especially if you, like her, lived alone. At first, Ainsley is elated to escape her boundary averse co-workers and even rebuffs the offer of a weekly Facetime hang with her brother. She wants to do this two week quarantine thing entirely on her own. Then, the internet goes down, she drops her phone in the bathtub, and the silence thickens. She’s on her own. In the woods. What could go wrong? As the pandemic drags out into months, Ainsley gets creative in her attempts to find companionship and has to confront that sometimes basking in a little well-earned solitude can mutate over time into society forgetting you ever existed and your being left for dead. First time feature director Dominic Lopez, in collaboration with his co-writer and star Kelsey Gunn, create a dramatic and whimsical story that is completely absurd yet totally relatable. Primarily shot in one location with one actor and a taxidermy mouse in a beret as the leads, Little Jar really illustrates what independent filmmakers can accomplish with a limited budget (and that we’ve all probably still got a lot of pandemic stuff to deal with). Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Christie Robb Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Ghosts film review by UK film critic Madeleine Lavers. Starring Sakshi Chopra directed by Mihir Gulati. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Ghosts Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Madeleine Lavers | Posted on: Aug 2, 2026 Directed by: Mihir Gulati Written by: NA Starring: Sakshi Chopra Sakshi Chopra is a musical artist from Mumbai who skilfully blends modern pop music with Indian elements. Her music video for her song Ghosts currently has close to 2 million views. The music video features a stylish gold palace, where Sakshi sits surrounded by luxury on a high-up throne. She is offered a gift by a woman who is then taken down by a man who waits below with a crown or tiara, maybe in an attempt to win her over, or to reveal his theft. An action-packed scene follows as Sakshi sword-fights the man after his abuse. This scene is intertwined with a story of the pair's love, maybe before their current conflict arose, or in a dream-like sequence to illustrate what could have been. A clearer understanding of this would make the narrative more impactful. The video ends as the rivalry does: Sakshi defeats the man and places the crown on her head. She is victorious, reinforcing messages of limiting male power and the fight for dominance. For the most part, the narrative of this video is clear and easy to understand, but some context would help. The fast-paced shots and wide variety of detailed sets and costumes increase audience engagement throughout. Sakshi's performance is confident and powerful; she sings and dances with conviction and control throughout. The same compliments go to her dancers also. The movements (including stunts) are smoothly emphasised by high quality cinematography. The elaborate set design, skilled choreography and catchy song curates a beautiful video with immense detail. For a short music video, audiences can grasp the hard work and effort that went into its creation. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Madeleine Lavers Music Video < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Behind Sterlingate film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Stacey Edward Harris, Richard Cawte, Louis Cavalier, Rachael Cummins, Katrina Rose Webb directed by Martha Elsen, Damien Fowler. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Behind Sterlingate Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jan 13, 2024 Directed by: Martha Elsen, Damien Fowler Written by: Martha Elsen, Damien Fowler Starring: Stacey Edward Harris, Richard Cawte, Louis Cavalier, Rachael Cummins, Katrina Rose Webb A politician's future depends on an upcoming interview that is going to be broadcasted live nationwide. The story is set during a time where there are a lot of issues in the British government. The Prime Minister is under criminal investigation and a decision has been made to stop free school meals. Angela Sterling (Harris), the Education Secretary, is in a waiting room of a television channel, where she is waiting to be interviewed regarding all this. Angela has even more on her mind, as it has just been disclosed that she cheated on her husband, for which she is going to be questioned during the interview. She desperately tries to find a way to avoid finding herself under heavy fire and keep her family together. This short student production has quite a plot: a politician is about to go on live television and it has just become known to the public that she has committed adultery and must now decide what is the best course of action to take. Most of the narrative takes place in the waiting room, where Angela is waiting, along with her teenage son, Samuel (Cavalier), her family's childminder, Barbra (Cummins) and her publicist, Harriet (Webb). Angela and Harriet are aware that Simon (Cawte) intends to brutally question Angela over her act of infidelity and they must come up with a plan that will save her public image. The film is quite effective when it comes to creating tension, suspense and drama, with the audience wandering how Angela is going to get herself out of this mess, if she will manage that and whether she will take Harriet's ruthless advice in order to do so, which would involve saving herself while damaging her family. The screenplay and the acting create intriguing characters whose struggles are explored. Angela is a well-meaning person who made a massive error and must now deal with the consequences. Simon comes across as an arrogant individual and as an interviewer he has a take-no-prisoners approach. Harriet is perhaps the one who stands out the most, a cold-hearted publicist who is willing to step on others in order to get her way. Taking under consideration that this is a student project, the production value is quite good with the acting being terrific and the film gaining significantly from Joe Wright's cinematography and from Ben Thorn's dramatic and tense score. This short is a dramatic and tense story that follows a situation that is about to explode, while simultaneously exploring politics, adultery, family values, dishonesty and how desperation can lead to bad decisions. Ultimately, it seems that the film primarily shows how desperate people can be manipulated into doing things that are against their will and it does that quite dramatically. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Summer Day in Brooklyn film review by UK film critic Chris Buick. Starring Oumou Eden Traoré, Susi Plotts-Pineda directed by Josh Cox. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Summer Day in Brooklyn Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Chris Buick | Posted on: Jan 28, 2024 Directed by: Josh Cox Written by: Josh Cox Starring: Oumou Eden Traoré, Susi Plotts-Pineda Summer Day in Brooklyn tells the compact but very lovely story of two women who decide to extend their first date from the previous evening into the next day. Director Josh Cox, who also handles writing, sound and cinematography here, has created a film that ultimately showcases that lightning in a bottle moment where two people, whether by chance or by fate, discover that inexplicable but magical connection to one another. There isn’t an ounce of drama to be found here, no big character explorations or revelations, no jaw-dropping plot twists or big eye-catching set pieces. In fact, the film never really gets any faster than the gentle amble it sets out at from the beginning. But that’s kind of the point. Our two characters who having just found each other, are so comfortable, so at ease with one another that by letting the film very gently float along, it bolsters the overall theme which is, when you find that person, everything else is just easy. It’s always a bold and brave decision to keep things simple, especially where others might have been tempted to do otherwise, but here it undoubtedly pays off and allows us to simply enjoy watching this beautiful connection evolve. And over the course of the film, we do really get to see that connection blossom and continue to deepen further and further thanks to Cox’s two leads, who do a really great job in making us believe that that initial spark is becoming much, much more. The natural chemistry between Traoré and Plotts-Pineda is a real winner here, ultimately selling everything Cox is trying to do and because a great part of the film’s dialogue is inaudible by design while the film’s soundtrack plays over the scenes instead, both actors need to and do succeed in showing and not telling us this love story, each longing gaze and affectionate touch feeling as authentic and meaningful as the next. It’s also a very crisp looking film for sure, shot completely on an iPhone which these days allows more and more filmmakers to create quite visually striking pieces such as these much more easily. But while this accessibility for filmmakers is genuinely great, such a method still does mean some drawbacks, especially when it comes to sound, which it must be said does suffer slightly here. The aforementioned soundtrack that plays over large parts of the film fits the vibe for sure, but its slightly discordant nature distracts a little where it could have probably been dialled back a bit. And in the moments where the score falls away and we have dialogue again, the ambient noise often overwhelms and isn’t quite in the right balance. But again, it’s a lovely looking and more importantly a lovely feeling film, one Cox and co. should be very proud of. Summer Day in Brooklyn is a film that captures the wonder of fresh, new love at its inception and in the end elicits a great deal of joy and hope. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Chris Buick Short Film, LGBTQ+ < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Extricate film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Bennette Ngoma, Tafara Mbangani, Jayden Ndombasi directed by Sterling Nlongo. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Extricate Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Nov 20, 2025 Directed by: Sterling Nlongo Written by: Sterling Nlongo Starring: Bennette Ngoma, Tafara Mbangani, Jayden Ndombasi Filmed over the course of a single day and with minimal budget, short thriller Extricate is a flawed but impressively-realised vision of a post-apocalyptic London that has fallen foul of lawlessness, militarism and plague. Survivors Hazel (Bennette Ngoma) and Joshua (Tafara Mbangani) face a desperate struggle in a world that has fallen apart, when they come across a mysterious mute child, Cairo (Jayden Ndombasi). Cairo possesses mysterious power that may hold a key to rebuilding society, but the threat of scavengers, fascist militias and a fatal disease that has crippled the world mean they have to use all of their meagre resource and strength to bring the child to a sanctuary where such an outcome may be possible. The sacrifices make their pair wonder if their choices are worth the risk. Extricate ’s budget and smaller-scale production mean that the lofty ambition of director Sterling Nlongo at creating a fully-formed sci-fi thriller aren’t fully met – but this entertaining short is one hell of a go at it. Some of the more complex and action-packed developments of Hazel and Joshua’s quest are relegated to voiceover – a presumed necessity due to the scale such scenes would demand. What is left are the quieter character moments between the pair, Jayden Ndombasi’s Cairo and later Alisha Henry’s malicious dictator Mabel – and these deep moments of introspective exchanges stand up as emotional and thought-provoking examples of why post-apocalyptic movies have great potential to speak to the human experience. The themes of sacrifice, loyalty and commitment to a greater purpose are all explored through considered moments that develop the story more than any large-scale gun battle ever could. Bennette Ngoma’s Hazel and Tafara Mbangani’s Joshua share the majority of the screen time, and their chemistry echoes the likes of Joel and Tess in The Last of Us as an imperfect and desperate couple who are faced with a difficult choice that places their existence in great danger, but requires selflessness for the benefit of all. Their differing perspectives on what to do with Cairo are the film’s most intriguing aspect, as is the choices both face when danger inevitably tracks them down. Ngoma and Nbangani convince as hardened, embittered and embattled survivors, whose humanity is frayed but not fractured. There are times where the film creaks under the pressures of its small-scale production. Much of the film is limited to the interiors of warehouses – the sparse outdoor sequences convince but there is a lack of scale that mean the scale of societal downfall or the reach of the militarised organisation hunting Hazel and Joshua down is hard to envision. There are occasional hiccups with the dialogue where vocal matching feels off, and clunky dialogue is another symptom of too much story, too little time. An unsatisfactory and open-ended conclusion also falls flat – one that aims for a complex deliberation on sacrifice but leaves audiences feeling short-changed. Despite some clear shortcomings, Extricate is an impressive success for director Sterling Nlongo. It outperforms a small budget to imagine a devastated world and explores it with strong characters who act convincingly for the world they live in. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Short Film, Digital / DVD Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >