Trouble film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Anthony Rapp, John Rubinstein, Gwen Hollander directed by Jacob Chase. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Trouble Film Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Oct 13, 2023 Directed by: Jacob Chase Written by: Jacob Chase Starring: Anthony Rapp, John Rubinstein, Gwen Hollander A door-to-door salesman arrives at an elderly man's residence with the intention of doing some business. However, all is not what it seems. The story takes place in the U.S., during nineteen-fifties and a traveling salesman (Rapp) knocks on the door of a large house, hoping to sell some knives that he has inside his suitcase. He is greeted by the nurse (Hollander), who is looking after the elderly owner (Rubinstein) of the property. After a little misunderstanding, the man agrees to watch over the senior, while she briefly goes of to attend to other matters. The salesman then encounters the not-very-friendly aged man, who is ill and eventually allows the visitor to show him the knives. And that is when the song starts. This short film begins as a period drama about an accidental and awkward meeting between two strangers and suddenly turns into a musical and it is quite a show. Rapp proceeds to sing a catchy song filled with rhymes, whose lyrics tell a tragic background story about himself and his sister, particularly how she married a salesman who deceived and destroyed her and finally explain the salesman's current situation and intentions. The song takes up approximately four minutes of the film's ten-minute duration and the creativity makes it an enjoyable and admirable sequence. Rapp delivers a fantastic performance as he sings and dances while moving around the house, with the senior remaining seated and watching him, baffled. Reality and fantasy overlap during the song, with characters from the lyrics appearing and dancing around the property and commendations go to the camerawork and Sean Lew's choreography for the dance scenes. The song is appropriately titled Beautiful and praise goes to Alan Zachary, Michael Weiner and Zach Robinson for the remarkable work in creating a piece that supports the narrative by telling a story and is also a joy to listen to. The song sequence is the part that stands out the most, however the rest of the film is not brought down in any way, as all of the scenes help develop an intriguing story about tragedy and revenge with plot twists. And the entire film benefits greatly by Florian Stadler's wonderful cinematography and by Michael Mullen's superb work on the costumes. This film is entertaining and dramatic, with revelations. Like many musicals, this one utilises singing in order to move the plot forward and to support character development and it does so quite effectively. The singing, the dancing, Rapp's performance and the twists are what make this short a memorable experience. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Out of Time film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Mark Silcox, Henry Chebaane, Sadie Macgrath directed by Henry Chebaane. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Out of Time Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jun 18, 2024 Directed by: Henry Chebaane Written by: Henry Chebaane Starring: Mark Silcox, Henry Chebaane, Sadie Macgrath Humanity's food has been reduced to a single type of sustenance and a giant asteroid is heading towards Earth. Basically, this nine-minute-long film is separated into three stages: narration explaining the situation accompanied by a montage, two men having a conversation and finally another montage only that one is accompanied by a song. The plot is this: it is 2044 and things are not going well for planet Earth. Pollution has caused all food has become toxic and the RON corporation has developed a substance named 'Manna-Moolah' and it is safely edible. However, this food was created by harvesting substances from an asteroid and this activity caused the asteroid to change its course and end up in a direction that will cause it to collide with Earth. Professor Markus Pokus (Silcox), who was the corporation's chief chemist, helped create Manna-Moolah along with the help of AI, however AI took over and changed this new food, making it harmful to humans. Now, a few hours before the catastrophe, Pokus meets with Victor Kenstein (Chebaane), a former pupil in order to board a hidden spaceship and survive. As mentioned above, this short begins with a montage and a voice-over. The voice-over is provided by Macgrath and she explains the tense story with the help of a series of shots that include Pokus and computer animation depicting the asteroid approaching the planet. This section is the shortest one. The conversation between Pokus and Victor is what follows and it is intriguing and humorous. They are inside a spaceship that is disguised as a restaurant and they talk about what is going on with Manna-Moolah and the asteroid and their goal is to leave the planet, avoiding doom. Including all this, they also chat about the colour black and eggs. Now the third part. The second half or so is a music video. This section is a montage that is accompanied by the track Out of Time by LX8 (a rather appropriate choice considering that the plot involves an imminent, unavoidable disaster) and it is arguably the best part of the film. The montage is wonderfully edited by Radim Vlcek, making effective use of superimposition and dissolve techniques. The rapid montage includes images such as factories, chickens, digital numbers and Big Ben, their significance probably being to point out the factors of pollution and that time is running out. As for the song, it is quite enjoyable and (as mentioned) appropriate. This short certainly has an interesting plot, that being a sci-fi story and a race against the clock. Of course, it evidently carries important messages, raising awareness about pollution and the dangers of relying too much on technology. Overall, this is a film that is entertaining and also acts as a warning that people must protect the Earth and keep technology under control. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Ukraine War, In the eyes of refugees film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Alin Galeata, Victoria Skrypka, Daniel Denes directed by Olivia M. Pfaff. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Ukraine War, In the eyes of refugees Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jul 23, 2022 Directed by: Olivia M. Pfaff Written by: Olivia M. Pfaff Starring: Alin Galeata, Victoria Skrypka, Daniel Denes On the 24 of February 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, marking the beginning of a terrible, ongoing invasion that has caused millions of Ukrainians to leave their country. This short documentary examines the struggles of the Ukrainian refugees and the efforts by various organisations to help them. Much of the footage was shot at refugee camps in Romania. A variety of individuals are interviewed, including Captain Alin Galeata, refugee Victoria Skrypka, Daniel Denes and several refugees and their children. Galeata works for the Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations and gives the audience a tour around a refugee camp, showing the facilities and explaining the procedures and how the refugees are assisted. Denes does humanitarian work and provides food and other products to the displaced people. By seeing what these two individuals are doing and the effectiveness of the refugee camps, one can understand the great efforts that are being done in order to help the refugees. A few refugees and their children are interviewed while they are staying at a camp. They talk about who they are, how the war has affected their lives and how they try to cope. Listening to their stories is quite moving and reveals how wars destroy lives. A lot of emphasis is placed on the children in the refugee camps. Apart from speaking about their experiences with the conflict, they are seen playing with each other and having fun. Although their lives have been significantly changed by the invasion, they appear to maintain positivity and happiness. 'War is not healthy for children and other living things' is a statement that is uttered by some interviewees and by being repeated throughout the film, it becomes apparent that the documentary is sending support to the refugee children and defying war. Journalist Mark L. Owen provides voice-over and does a great job. Sultan Alkazmi creates a powerful score that adds significant value. This interesting, informative and dramatic documentary provides an insight into how the Russian invasion of Ukraine has turned people into refugees and the generous efforts that are being done to help them. It shows support for the refugees, their children and the people who help them. It contains messages that oppose warfare and suggests that determination, courage, unity, support and generosity can keep people strong even during very harsh times. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film, Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Building Tinseltown film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Jacob Stockton, Jay Armstrong, Hannah McMenzie directed by Brandon Phillips. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Building Tinseltown Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Aug 1, 2023 Directed by: Brandon Phillips Written by: N/A Starring: Jacob Stockton, Jay Armstrong, Hannah McMenzie A short documentary about the making of the 2022 short film Tinseltown . During their final year at Northumbria University Newcastle, a group of film students were assigned to make an eight-minute-long short film and this documentary reveals how they managed to pull it off. The result was a forty-minute long comedy drama about a lonely wannabe actor who has two imaginary friends. The documentary consists of interviews of the cast and crew and behind-the-scenes footage and it is structured in a way that begins with the idea for the film in January 2022, following the challenges during the filming, organising, etc., before reaching the premiere in July of that year. There is a countdown to the day of the premiere with dates announcing how close it is and the shoots are numbered. The interviewees include director and writer Jacob Stockton, producers Jay Armstrong and Hannah McMenzie, editors Daniel Laybourn and James Case and actor Harrison Emmonds, who plays 'Jake', the film's main character. By sharing their experiences, they provide an informative insight into the making of this student project, revealing the hard work and difficulties involved, including last-minute changes. This documentary is more than an account of the process that led to the creation of Tinseltown . It points out the activities and efforts that are essential in filmmaking and how aspects of that industry including script, directing, editing and character study come together in order to create a film. And of course, it introduces to the viewer to the inspiring, ambitious and hard-working individuals who worked together and utilised their creativity in order to make their idea a reality and listening to their stories and watching them in action is fantastic. Director Phillips also worked on the editing and does a great job, making effective use of split screen and fast cutting techniques. The documentary also benefits substantially from an entertaining soundtrack and the opening montage that includes interviews with various celebrities from the film industry is a superb way to grab the audience's attention. Building Tinseltown is about the development and release of a student short film and it examines in detail the filmmakers' journey to complete it and the complications that they encountered. It is a rather interesting viewing and aspiring filmmakers (and movie fans) should definitely give this one a go. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film, Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Trial 22 film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Corinna Brown, Graham O'Connor, Isabella Lake, Felix Garcia Guyer directed by John Ferrer. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Trial 22 Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Jul 7, 2023 Directed by: John Ferrer Written by: Harry Metcalfe and John Ferrer Starring: Corinna Brown, Graham O'Connor, Isabella Lake, Felix Garcia Guyer In Trial 23, Contestant Number 1 (Brown) is busy beating the crap out of some sort of ninja dude. She's an obvious hardass and she pulls no punches as she knocks the ninja out and puts him to the ground. She looks like a really strong contestant and could even have the chops to go all the way, but hey, this is no time for dawdling, let's get through the door and onto the next trial – Trial 22 . Trial 22 initially looks very similar to Trial 23 in that the dark underground room with its painted brick wall is exactly the same – just with a '22' imprinted on it this time. However, Trial 22 brings with it its own complications, mostly in the form of three other contestants. Contestant Number 2 (O'Connor) is helping out Contestant Number 3 (Lake) who has broken her wrist, but let's just say that compassion is not anybody's strong suit in this scenario. Contestant Number 4 (Guyer) is another hardass, dressed up in pseudo-military gear, and he can't be bothered with the snivelling and the whining. He just wants to get on with it. So, the mood lighting goes on, the countdown timer begins and a cage with no bars(!) appears in the middle of the room with some kind of monster in it. Alan. Looking like some kind of skinned version of Donnie Darko 's (2001) death rabbit, Alan appears to be blind and has the keycard to the next exit door around his neck. The understanding of this situation pits one contestant against the other and begins a lethal game of Keeper Of The Keys, as Contestant Number 1 and Contestant Number 2 realise that working together might just be the way to get out of this mess. So, what's on offer from director and co-writer, John Ferrer in his new nine minute short, is an obvious rerun of a plethora of 'deadly game' movies and shows including Saw (2004), Squid Game (2021), and the Granddaddy of them all, Cube (1997). To his credit, Ferrer gets the feel and the look right for a claustrophobic clash in a lethal, underground fight for survival. The lighting keeps things firmly embedded in future horror, while the cinematography and creature effects offer a measure of quality which keeps the gory bits gruesome and the tension tantalizingly tight. This only lasts so long though as the second half of the short makes several continuity and plotting errors which leave the film feeling like a parody of what it should have been. It starts when the contestants use a beeping watch to have Alan take out one of their rivals and then in the very next shot we see the lit up digits and hear the beeping of the countdown digital timer, which seems not to affect Alan at all. We then move on to find that an arbitrary choice is forced upon the contestants, something that hadn't been mentioned before, and which just feels like a lazy cop out from the writers. Then there's the dumbfounding denouement, which presumably was intended to turn the scenario on its head, but which in the end is so nonsensical that it undermines everything which the film tried to set-up in the entire rest of its runtime. In the end Trial 22 is a well made but badly structured horror short that borrows heavily from those which came before without adding anything positive of its own. There are obvious mistakes which should have been fixed before the film went into production and the writing and the plotting come across as being fairly lazy, even for a film that's under ten minutes long. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Hemingway Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Truth to Power film review by UK film critic Brandon Thomas. Starring Barbara Lee, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bory Booker directed by Abby Ginzberg. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Truth to Power Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Brandon Thomas | Posted on: Aug 18, 2021 Directed by: Abby Ginzberg Written by: Abby Ginzberg Starring: Barbara Lee, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bory Booker Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power is a rapturous celebration of the long-time Congresswoman from Oakland, California. Instead of being an issues-driven fluff piece, Speaking Truth to Power is a movie that seeks to understand how Lee’s history and circumstances led her to becoming the woman she is today. Barbara Lee hasn’t become a household name like Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Despite her minor anonymity on the national political stage, the film puts a spotlight on how Lee has managed to get meaningful legislation passed while holding onto her core beliefs. It’s part of what has made Lee so endearing to her constituents, other House members and senators, and to her own family. So much of the early portion of Speaking Truth to Power focuses on Lee’s solitary post-9/11 vote against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists. By being the lone member of the House of Representatives to vote against the Act, Lee put a target on her back during a fraught time in American politics. Through leaning into this part of Lee’s life so early in the film, Director Abby Ginzberg sets the stage to show how the Congresswoman has always been that principled in her morals and convictions. Of course, the film is chock full of glowing testimonials from the creme de la creme of American political and activist life: John Lewis, Van Jones, Cory Booker and Danny Glover, just to name a few. These vignettes never threaten to overtake the film, but add flavorful bits to Lee’s ongoing story from childhood through her career in Washington. The real meat and potatoes of the film comes from Lee herself. So much of her story is told from her point of view as the filmmakers follow her from Washington, D.C., to her district in California, and even back to El Paso, Texas, where she grew up in the shadow of Jim Crow. The personal side of Lee’s story isn’t given the same attention that her professional side is, and that feels almost by design. Lee isn’t shy about her struggles as a single mother, or the failings of past relationships. But she isn’t looking to let those past hardships define her either. By the end of Speaking Truth to Power, it’s apparent that Barbara Lee deserves to be included in the pantheon of those aforementioned household names. Not for her political shrewdness though. No, Barbara Lee should be remembered for her convictions. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Brandon Thomas Theatrical Release, Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Close of Play film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Corey Wade, John Lee Taggart, Viv Wiggins directed by George Nelson. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Close of Play Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Mar 26, 2025 Directed by: George Nelson Written by: George Nelson Starring: Corey Wade, John Lee Taggart, Viv Wiggins A short drama written and directed by George Nelson and starring Corey Wade, John Lee Taggart, Viv Wiggins. Poor Kyle (Wade) is not doing well. Having been the victim of bullying during his school years, now, as a young man, he is suffering from the after-effects of his ordeals that include depression and not being able to stand up for himself. The financial company he works for is in the process of hiring for certain positions and Kyle is shocked to discover that his boss, Liz (Wiggins) has assigned him to interview Josh (Taggart), a youngster who used to bully Kyle when they were at school. How will Kyle handle this? This dramatic and tense short places the viewer in the shoes of an individual who has been severely damaged by long-term bullying. The screenplay effectively explores the unfortunate emotional state he is in, how he feels, how he struggles daily due to the memories of his torments, which are revealed through black-and-white flashbacks. Zach North-Moore contributes to the atmosphere with the dramatic music and things get quite suspenseful and tense when Kyle interviews Josh and their conversation eventually turns into something other than a job interview. The main subject of this film are the long-lasting effects of bullying and Wade is very convincing in portraying a person who is dealing with those effects: not standing up against two muggers, not reporting them to the police, clenching his fists when he gets angry, attending therapy sessions (as indicated by a calendar) and being in a bad mental state in general. Taggart's character is Kyle's former tormentor, who now appears to be a changed person, polite and respectful. As mentioned, bullying is the principal theme in this story, which pays particular attention to the traumatic effects it has on victims a long time after their experiences, leaving them traumatised and with low self-esteem. Holding a grudge also plays a big part. This film is about bullying. About mental suffering and revenge. It is a hard-hitting commentary about psychological wounds. It can also be viewed as a drama and a thriller that centres on an unexpected and ultimately fateful encounter. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

From Above film review by UK film critic Chris Olson. Starring Nicolaj Kopernikus, Emilie Kroyer Koppel, Lene Maria Christensen directed by Nicolaj Kopernikus. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS From Above Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Chris Olson | Posted on: Nov 17, 2024 Directed by: Nicolaj Kopernikus Written by: Nicolaj Kopernikus Starring: Nicolaj Kopernikus, Emilie Kroyer Koppel, Lene Maria Christensen Filmmaker Nicolaj Kopernikus delivers a tender yet righteous tale of perspective in his short film From Above , in which he stars as Morten - a downtrodden father and artist whose estrangement with his daughter has left him bereft of dignity and hope. At the onset of the short film From Above , we meet Morten and his daughter Viola creating a fantastic image of a tiger using an array of clothes on the floor. The image only makes sense once Viola stands on the kitchen table, at which point she can see the “tiger” they have made as well as her dad smiling and waving proudly next to the artwork. We flash-forward some years and find that Morten is no longer the together man we met earlier, his appearance is shockingly rough, he lurks outside Viola’s home peering in (no longer welcome inside), and he has become the town’s drunken homeless person, facing all manner of shame and judgement from those he meets. The way a child can look down on their parent from a height and feel such burning pride gets beautifully juxtaposed with a similar vantage point later in the film, one in which Morten is looking nowhere near as inspiring. That’s largely the point of Kopernikus’ film, how easy it is to fall down and what that might look like to the rest of us “from above”. Morten’s immense struggle to find a grip on his life is obvious to all he encounters and yet we don’t see any lifeline thrown to him, not a shred of charitable behaviour. Indeed, his plight is met more often with anger or indifference. The sublime performance of Nicolaj Kopernikus provides a sense of relief (always a worry when the star is also the writer and director) and it is a powerhouse display of highs and extreme lows from the central character’s life. A lot of the performance is brilliantly non-verbal, as there is not a huge amount of dialogue in the film and Morten himself is a character of few words. Instead, the filmmaking relies on an emotive score that manages to bombard the viewer spectacularly to build the tension on screen, as well as excellent settings for simple scenes to play out without the need to splat the audience with bulky exposition. A simple flashback is used to ensure the viewer gets the clarity they need to fully appreciate Morten’s downfall. It is Morten’s artistic nature which in the end saves him, being able to convey something everyone thought was lost in a beautiful way, a moment in time where the angle with which you view it is crucial in your understanding of the subject. If you come away from this beautifully crafted film feeling unmoved, perhaps you need a new vantage point in life. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Chris Olson Short Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

With Joyful Ring film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Matthew Rhodes, Elena Hollander directed by Gary Karapetyan. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS With Joyful Ring Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Oct 29, 2022 Directed by: Gary Karapetyan Written by: Gary Karapetyan Starring: Matthew Rhodes, Elena Hollander A middle-aged man spends Christmas by himself and reminisces about the past. It is Christmas and Thomas (Rhodes) wakes up in his home and begins his day of festivity. He cooks a Chrsitmas lunch, turkey and everything, puts on formal clothing and sits by himself at the dining room table, enjoying the food and wine. He appears to be living alone and keeps on thinking of his wife (Hollander). This short is a Christmas film, however it is not one that is filled with happiness. This is a moving drama about a lonely man spending this day of festivity by himself as it is quite apparent that his wife has passed away. The film opens with a wonderful establishing shot of a neighbourhood that is covered with snow and Christmas decorations, accompanied by a festive score, while the camera moves slowly towards Thomas's house. This opening gives the impression that this is going to be a light-hearted story, however clues appear later on that indicate that the protagonist is sad, lonely and grieving. He takes antidepressants, tenderly touches a robe that probably belonged to his wife and through flashbacks, he remembers joyful times with his wife. His living room is filled with Christmas decorations, including a tree and a large collection of miniature houses and figurines, which he inspects and some of them bring back memories of his wife, as they remind him of activities they did together. For instance, tiny statues of a man and a woman sitting by a fire reminds him that he did the same thing with his wife. Thomas looking at the meaningful objects with emotion and the addition of the flashbacks make it clear that he misses his wife deeply. A great deal of praise goes to the beautiful cinematography that George Pilafdzhyan creates, who also utilises black-and-white cinematography during the brief flashbacks. Pilafdzhyan also worked on the editing and does a great job with the dissolve technique and also develops a terrific dance montage. There are no spoken words and the audience observes Thomas as he spends the day alone, having his memories to keep him company. Rhodes's performance is vital for the film to work and he succeeds at that tremendously, portraying a lonely and grieving individual. Recognition also goes to Hollander's emotional performance. Regarding the music, it is mostly festive and it captures the beauty of the moment in a melancholic way. The mise-en-scene deserves special mention, as it contains a rich collection of Christmas decorations that create a strong festive atmosphere. This is a drama about a man remembering his wife. It is a story about loss, grief, loneliness and nostalgia and it points out how empty a person's life has become after losing a loved one. At the same time, it also shows the beauty of memories and how remembering joyful times can bring happiness. It is an emotional viewing experience that is filled my tender moments and it will most likely touch the viewer's heart. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Ensouled film review by UK film critic Patrick Foley. Starring Joanna Saul, Christian Miller, Linda McLachlan directed by Moe Najati. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Ensouled Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: Aug 27, 2024 Directed by: Moe Najati Written by: Moe Najati, Fabrizio Faillace Starring: Joanna Saul, Christian Miller, Linda McLachlan Future technology’s capacity to challenge grief, suffering and mourning are put under a microscope in Moe Najati’s thought-provoking, slick sci-fi Ensouled, a genuinely memorable, dynamic and realised short that keeps viewers on the edge. Clara (Joanna Saul) carries with her a devastating burden that has come to define her life. To seek a path to redemption and a return to someone lost to her, she contacts the mysterious Eternia facility – who promise to reunite her with loved ones in an afterlife. There she meets Vince (Christian Miller), who claims to be there for similar reasons. But something about the procedure she is due to undergo feels off, and a shocking revelation turns her entire perception on life on its head. Moe Najati has previously spoken of how discomfort around technology he has experienced in his own life inspired some of the themes in Ensouled, and despite the film’s plot not following his own experience – it is clear that this work is the manifestation of a director with a clear vision. The shadowy Eternia facility which houses most of the film’s action is a genuinely unnerving place, the type of organisation with little eye on presenting itself as welcoming. Where the outcome of the procedure is presented to Clara as something to be cherished, the process itself – and particularly the processing of Clara as an individual – is quietly horrifying. Perhaps the film’s most telling exchange is where Clara asks “Will I feel anything?”, only to be met with the effusive response from Rachelle Lauzon’s employee Millie of “It’ll only take a minute”… The disconnect between tech companies obsessed with outcomes and efficiency, and the human and ethical costs and questions around whether their aims should be pursued at all, therefore flows through the film’s circuits. Nowhere is this made clearer than in the character of Vince, whose motivation for attending the facility are (unsurprisingly) not quite what they appear. The knitting of his own story and choices with those of Clara makes for a fantastic twist which remains well in line with the primary themes of the film. Perhaps most hauntingly is the ultimate meaninglessness with which Vince’s fateful decisions appear to be in the face of the power of mega corps – the credits sequence emphasises this in genuinely haunting fashion. The texture of the film is cold to the touch – with the scenes set in Eternia exuding lifeless, robotic and manufactured energy that tell the truth about the ‘service’ they offer. Najati’s visual creation feels inspired by Niander Wallace’s headquarters in Blade Runner 2049 – the refuge of those who understand what life is but not what it means. The blaring of alarms and flashing red lights raises the stakes to horror-levels as the film comes to its shocking conclusion, comfortably in line with the disturbing tensions Najati has cultivated through first acts. Ensouled is an impressive addition to the modern sci-fi landscape. Its scepticism of the ethos behind technology firms and the questionable services they offer is earned through the storytelling that Moe Najati puts into motion. Audiences will be left engaged with the questions it raises, and pondering the ethics within. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Clara Sola film review by UK film critic Hope Madden. Starring Wendy Chinchilla Araya, Daniel Castaneda Rincon directed by Nathalie Alvarez Mesen. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Clara Sola Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Jul 15, 2022 Directed by: Nathalie Alvarez Mesen Written by: Maria Camila Arias, Nathalie Alvarez Mesen Starring: Wendy Chinchilla Araya, Daniel Castaneda Rincon It’s rare for a film to tackle the difference between spirituality and religion with as much beauty and empathy as Nathalie Álvarez Mesén’s Costa Rican treasure, Clara Sola . Clara (a remarkable Wendy Chinchilla Araya) is a middle-aged woman living with her mother and niece in a remote area of the country. Her closest friend is a white horse, Yuca, that the family lets to a neighbor each morning to use with tourists. When the neighbor hires a summer replacement named Santiago (Daniel Castañeda Rincón), something in Clara awakens. Making her feature debut, Álvarez Mesén is already a master of showing without telling. Her film unveils Clara’s story moment by moment, but never feels deliberate. Using mainly nonactors gives Clara Sola a lived-in, authentic feel, while Sophie Windqvist’s camera and Ruben De Gheselle’s score immerse Clara and her family in something both natural and enchanting. Chinchilla Araya, a dancer by trade, delivers an unaffected, unselfconscious performance you can’t look away from. Simultaneously delicate and fierce, it’s a turn perfectly suited to the magical realism the filmmaker develops. Castañeda Rincón’s tenderness is forever surprising, and the two develop an easy but heartbreaking chemistry. Álvarez Mesén, who writes along with Maria Camila Arias, isn’t afraid to complicate characters—the kind of complexity rarely given to those in such a rural setting. No one in Clara’s world is one-dimensional, nor is the filmmaker’s take on family. The love inside Clara’s house may be what feels most believable and sincere—and damaging. But what emerges is a clear look at the way spirituality is reined in and controlled by religion. Even clearer are the marks left by the women who enforce patriarchal order. Clara Sola is an utterly gorgeous film unlike any other. It moves at its own pace, unnerves as it goes, and leaves you shaken but hopeful. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Rise of Elsie Mathews film review by UK film critic Swati Verma. Starring Rhyan Elizabeth Hanavan, Kira L. Wilson directed by J. W. Cox. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Rise of Elsie Mathews Film Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Critic: Swati Verma | Posted on: May 11, 2023 Directed by: J. W. Cox Written by: J. W. Cox Starring: Rhyan Elizabeth Hanavan, Kira L. Wilson The writer-director J.W. Cox gives the audience an insight into the world of the Hollywood stars and their entourage through the female protagonist Elsie Mathews (Rhyan Elizabeth Hanavan). The plot of The Rise of Elsie Mathews revolves around an overbearing-Stage mom who pushes her 13-year-old daughter Elsie forward into a film career. However, her relationship with crew members is tense, as they love what Elsie brings to the table, but question if working with her is worth dealing with her mother. Elsie must find a way to move forward to achieve her goals and also move past her mother. The film opens with the camera panning into an ongoing scene from the sets of Elsie’s forthcoming movie quickly runs through her busy schedule establishing the subject matter gripping the attention and forming an emotional connection with the content diving into it to explore further, especially those section of the audience who have a keen interest in filmmaking and wants to try their luck in the field by choosing it as a profession. The black, white, and grey colour palette provides a sense of serenity but it is left to the viewers to find out more about the other shades in the movie by watching the same. The set design, lighting, music, dialogues, costume, hair, makeup, and props have been kept natural and uplift the topic of The Rise Of Elsie Mathews. In terms of performance, Rhyan Elizabeth Hanavan plays Elsie Mathews a child artist who loves her work and enjoys the same but starts to feel the pressure as her mother wants to burden the little girl with the financial responsibilities of the household. Hanavan depicts the physical and emotional roller coaster Elsie feels from the very beginning with the help of body language, voice modulation, facial expressions, and eyes. Hanavan’s portrayal adds the element of realism to her performance and makes it relatable therefore allowing the viewers to learn from the character arc of Elsie. Kira L. Wilson plays the role of Helen Mathews the mother of Elsie who wants to manage the career plans of her daughter as Helen wants to take care of expenses concerning their home and also spare some money for her alcohol and cigarettes. Wilson brings out the villain shade of her character and so the audience dislikes Helen Mathews from the very first scene. I liked how Kira L. Wilson managed to evoke the exact reaction to Helen the filmmakers wanted as per the script. The Rise Of Elsie Mathews talks about the amount of hard work required to maintain the name and fame a film career brings with it. The short film reiterates that people should learn to deal with loneliness at the peak of being popular as they continuously search for some sort of normalcy. The dramatic piece highlights the culture of overbearing parenting in the entertainment industry resulting in an abusive relationship in the long run. The cinematic piece also tells us that it is important to support one’s costars and crews in every possible way to taste real success and be happy to improve their performance in turn. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Swati Verma Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >