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Watch Brother Troll at the 2022 UK Film Review Festival. See the UKFRF 2022 lineup and buy your festival pass. Brother Troll Listen to our review on the film podcast What our film review said: READ FULL REVIEW There is an indefinable quality to Brother Troll that makes it as interesting as it is entertaining. The film features a typically Scandinavian-style mixture of intense and harrowing dramatics alongside genuinely hilarious dark comedy that intertwine seamlessly and fluently to tell its story. Proudly supporting MediCinema for our 2022 film festival.

Mother Maker Lover Taker film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Bridie Shine, Emma-Kate Barry, Peter Broughton directed by India Howland, Will Pinhey. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Mother Maker Lover Taker Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Apr 27, 2024 Directed by: India Howland, Will Pinhey Written by: Will Pinhey Starring: Bridie Shine, Emma-Kate Barry, Peter Broughton A young witch manages to bring her lover back from the dead. This feature-length supernatural horror film has positive and negative aspects. If one begins with the positives, first there is the intriguing plot. Two young women (Shine and Barry) are lovers and they are happily living together in a large house in the countryside. The two women are never named throughout the film and therefore could be addressed as Shine and Barry's character. Shine's character claims that she was raised in a coven, surrounded by witchcraft. Then, one day her lover commits suicide by hanging herself from a tree in the woods. Devastated, Shine's character falls into desperation and starts drinking. After visiting her mother (Elizabeth Griffin), who is supposedly a witch, at the care home, she decides to use magic (that involves nasty tooth extraction) in order to ressurect her lost partner. Apparently it works and she emerges from the ground in the forest. However, shortly after, two more women emerge and they are identical to the deceased woman. The spooky plot and atmosphere certainly add pluses. A woman finds herself living with three identical women, who (in a way) have just been born. Although they look alike, they have different personalities and memories as, for instance, one is friendly and innocent while another is defensive and sceptical. The young witch becomes a sort of mentor to them, setting rules and taking good care of them while they live together in the isolated property. As time goes by, the otherworldly beings begin to question their existence and the tension rises as the worried witch tries to figure out how to resolve this extraordinary situation. The fantastic performances are another strength. Shine is terrific as a woman who is torn apart by loss and wants her partner back and Barry deserves a lot of praise for portraying three doppelgangers, each whith their own beliefs and concerns. What could be classified as bad in this film? The pace is slow and that might be unappealing for some. This is a psychological horror film and the action lies in the self-discovery that the doppelgangers and their creator go through. The story gradually unfolds as the witch struggles to keep things under control while the three look-alikes become more and more out of control. The abrupt and inconclusive ending will probably come across as a let-down. What themes are explored in this feature? Witchcraft is one and so is the devastating experience of loss. Death is another one and another is free will, which is an ability that is learned by the three ressurected ones. Howland also worked on the editing and acknowledgements go to the sections that involve the use of fast cutting and dynamic sound effects in order to create tense moments. Composer Luke Isom makes a good contribution with the sinister score and songs by artists including Hannah Gardner and Dead Rat Society add value to the viewing experience. Overall, this is a horror film with strong acting and an interesting plot and from some perspectives, it is also a lesbian love story. However, even fans of the horror genre might find it hard to deal with the slow pace and disappointing ending. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

William Baines writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. William Baines William Baines is a writer at UK Film Review. Providing film reviews for the entertainment website. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews

Everyone Will Burn film review by UK film critic Brandon Thomas. Starring Macarena Gomez, Sofia Garcoa directed by David Hebrero. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Everyone Will Burn Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Brandon Thomas | Posted on: Dec 4, 2023 Directed by: David Hebrero Written by: David Hebrero, Javier Kiran Starring: Macarena Gomez, Sofia Garcoa Ten years after her bullied son died by suicide, Maria (Macarena Gomez) looks to end her own life on a lonely bridge in the Spanish countryside. Before she can make the decision, Maria is approached by a small girl covered in soot and dirt. The girl, Lucia (Sofia Garcia) has achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism and also the same condition Maria’s son had. As Maria and Lucia’s bond intensifies, so does Lucia’s desire to rid the small town of the people who tormented Maria’s son and have continued to antagonize his suffering mother. Director David Hebrero throws a lot at the wall with Everyone Will Burn and amazingly, most of it sticks. Most prominently is the exploration of how people with certain mysterious health conditions are treated as “other” or even “evil”. It’s an ugly part of humanity we all believe to be in the past, but Hebrero puts the spotlight on how fear and misunderstanding can bring out the worst in even the most well-intentioned people. Hebrero’s visual language is hypnotic and often dream-like throughout. As Lucia dispatches members of the community (the highlight being the opening few minutes that leaves a policeman engulfed in flames), the nightmarish events taking place are fully realized through the expert camerawork. Similar to American filmmaker Ari Aster, Hebrero wrings a copious amount of tension out of seemingly mundane scenes around a dinner table or after a funeral. These are the scenes that left me squirming in my seat – not the ones involving carnage. Gomez is mesmerizing as the haunted Maria. There’s a lot of emotional weight to this performance and Gomez seamlessly transfers Maria’s grief and guilt from earlier in the movie, to wrath and righteous anger in the back half. It’s a performance so captivating that, despite Maria’s spiral into bloody vengeance, you can’t help but cheer her on. Everyone Will Burn starts strong and never lets its foot off of the gas pedal for the entire 2 hour running time. Visually, emotionally, and viscerally, this is a film that will stand tall and proud alongside the other excellent horror films of 2023. About the Film Critic Brandon Thomas Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Reaper Man film review by UK film critic Chris Olson. Starring Jessica Jai Johnson, Kenon Walker, Ebony Bivens directed by Jaron Lockridge. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Reaper Man Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Chris Olson | Posted on: Jul 19, 2023 Directed by: Jaron Lockridge Written by: Jaron Lockridge Starring: Jessica Jai Johnson, Kenon Walker, Ebony Bivens When a group of thieves end up killing her husband Joseph (Kenon Walker), it leaves Jessica (Jessica Jai Johnson) desperate enough to seek the help of a local mystic who is able to resurrect people. Regrettably, the Joseph that returns is not the same as before and he only has one thing on his mind: revenge. A humble horror, filmmaker Jaron Lockridge wears many hats to get his film up and running (writer, director, editor etc) and the result is an immersive, if clunky, watch. It’s always impressive to see an indie horror that shoots its shot and ends up somewhere near the goal. There are a lot of elements to praise in The Reaper Man , such as the contemplative pacing (although some shots do veer into the awkwardly lingering stage), the passionate performances of the two leads, and the use of flashback scenes to intelligently fill in the viewer’s narrative gaps. It’s a difficult film to know who to root for. Joseph is a kind man pre-death but his zombie version is full of righteous anger and violence. The thieves who terrorised our couple at the beginning become the targets, being stalked by Joseph. It’s only really Jessica who we cling to but it was her decision to summon him back (even after being warned) which causes all of the dark aftermath. The revenge theme is compelling though and scenes where innocents get caught up in the fray make for some of the most exciting. A few of The Reaper Man 's subplots are interesting to follow, such as the detectives who are always one step behind Joseph, or the relationship between Jessica and her sister Candace (Ebony Bivens). The “demon back from the dead” plot feels familiar and ambitious at times for a film with this budget. Horror aficionados will lament the lack of gore and brutality in Joseph’s conveyor belt of killings, and may even laugh at the numerous times he says “Time to atone” whilst, I assume, wearing Hallowe’en contact lenses. There are sound issues aplenty and the film does have a cheap charm that will remove any mainstream appeal but for fans of the genre (we bloody love you) they will certainly get a kick out of Lockridge’s appealing, almost romantic zombie thriller that sways just the right side of schlocky. About the Film Critic Chris Olson Indie Feature Film, Horror < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Graham Blair writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Graham Blair Graham Blair is one of the film critics at UK Film Review. He writes reviews for a wide range of movies, including short films and indie features. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews

Alasdair MacRae writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Alasdair MacRae Alasdair is an open-minded critic, currently based in Edinburgh. He has a particular fondness for the films of Agnès Varda, Robert Bresson, and David Cronenberg. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews

Pet Yeti - Playing The Floor is Made of Lava film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring N/A directed by Rakesh Jaitly. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Pet Yeti - Playing The Floor is Made of Lava Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Jul 11, 2022 Directed by: Rakesh Jaitly Written by: N/A Starring: N/A ‘Pet Yeti - Playing The Floor is Made of Lava’ is not so much a short film, but more of an unofficial music video for Soundcloud artist Pet Yeti. Music videos themselves have the power to tell stories ordinarily, however, this achieves nothing to make it stand out from the cloud - on both audible and visual fronts. The ‘film’ puts the song together with a man - presumably Pet Yeti themselves - working on a piece of artwork. The final result of the painting is more interesting and poses more questions that the rest of the piece. Despite the title, there is no glimpse of the iconic game ‘the floor is lava’ - which would have spiced up the ‘film’ tenfold. The gentleman is also definitely not by himself - with two accomplices lounging on the sofa whilst he undertakes the task of formulating the painting. The song itself is very Bo Burnham, appeals no doubt to that sort of crowd, however, a truly great song should be able to resonate with everybody - unfortunately this song doesn’t do that. It meanders around, bringing up rogue themes of isolation and depression which don’t suit the overall positive vibe of the short. It’s tonally all over the place - a remarkable feat given it’s only three minutes long. Watching ‘Pet Yeti - Playing the Floor is Made of Lava’, the question has to be raised - what really constitutes a film? This is the sort of thing - with a similar production value - that you’d find scrolling on TikTok. In any case, it doesn’t hold the attention - in fact, heeding the songs guidance, you’d be better off watching Star Trek on Netflix. About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Watcher film review by UK film critic Swati Verma. Starring Samad OluKunle, Tyreke Leslie, Anita Bright directed by Ivo Bright. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Watcher Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Swati Verma | Posted on: Jan 30, 2023 Directed by: Ivo Bright Written by: Ivo Bright Starring: Samad OluKunle, Tyreke Leslie, Anita Bright The writer-director Ivo Bright likes to follow his passion of filmmaking and explores the genre of crime with a well-knit script that evokes a sense of fear and isolation in the minds of the audience hence hooking them with the content with the help of the protagonist Raheem (Samad OluKunle). The plot of the short film revolves around Raheem and his friends who are trying hard at convincing him that someone watching and following them. The only hang-up is, Raheem does not believe it thinking that his friends are winding him up and they are growing confident that the watcher is getting closer with every passing minute. Watcher opens with a black screen along with an eerie background sound followed by the title of the film establishing the subject matter of the film. The DOP Cassius Kane utilises the combination of a series of tracking shots, mid-shots and close-up shots allowing the viewers to interact with the characters and be involved from the very beginning. The bluish-black colour palette, dim lighting, set design, dialogue, costume, hair, and make-up complements the concept and adds the element of realism to the same. In terms of performance, Samad OluKunle plays Raheem who believes in what he sees. OluKunle understands the nuances and portrays the multi-layered character with the right mix of emotions and logic as per various situations in the screenplay. Tyreke Leslie plays the role of Raheem’s friend who spots the mysterious being for the very first time in the film. Leslie manages to establish an emotional connection with the audience due to his dialogue delivery, voice modulation, and facial expressions, and the comic timing is on point. Leslie has a very strong screen presence and therefore he can ensure to provide the desired push to the narrative when necessary. Watcher talks about building such strong bonds that no stranger can break all the ties and walk away. Trust is the most important element in a friendship or any relationship, especially when going through tough patches or hardships. The short film reiterates that mental peace and well-being becomes crucial and sharing how one feels with family and friends helps combat and emerge victorious. The psychological thriller restates that one shouldn’t always go for a physical fight especially if one does not know about the enemy and analyse all possible repercussions of the action one takes. The crime drama tells its audience that it is very good to be self-reliant but one cannot ignore the value of friends as well as loved ones and regret it in the latter stage of life. Watcher discusses that there is nothing wrong with staying true to one’s emotions and listening to those who care in the hope of a better future. The short film tells its audience the significance of unconditional love and support are the bonus elements required to make friendship deeper and stronger over the years. About the Film Critic Swati Verma Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

James film review by UK film critic Joe Beck. Starring Jack Hollington, Morgan Watkins, Anna Koval directed by Claire Oakley. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS James Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Mar 31, 2024 Directed by: Claire Oakley Written by: Felix Levinson Starring: Jack Hollington, Morgan Watkins, Anna Koval The smallpox disease once caused the deaths of millions per year, sweeping across the world in the 17th and the 18th centuries, yet today it is the only human disease to have ever been eradicated. The diseases caused fever and vomiting, but was generally characterised by measles and rashes across the body, and in most cases it resulted in death. ‘James’ depicts the first steps towards the eradication of the disease, and the titular boy who was the first person to be vaccinated. As an educational and informative film ‘James’ excels, providing a detailed narrative of the process which saw Edward Jenner perform his first vaccination, and the boy who received it. However, as a dramatic film it falters, lacking any sense of tension or indeed pacing, and instead seeming to exist purely to provide a visualisation of those aforementioned events. There’s no dramatic edge to the film, and thus it is difficult to become truly invested, particularly when we already know the outcome, and that despite his protests James will be vaccinated, and will not contract smallpox. It is an interesting choice by both writer Felix Levinson and director Claire Oakley to frame the film not from the perspective of Edward Jenner, but from that of young James Phipps and his father. Through doing this we come to understand more the plight facing many of the poorest in England at the time Phipps was vaccinated in 1796, as poverty prevailed whilst the disease proliferated, causing deaths particularly amongst young children. James, played by Jack Hollington, is reluctant to be injected with the vaccine, yet the poverty of his family leads to both his father, played by Morgan Watkins, and his mother, played by Anna Koval, to see it as a means of putting food on the table and finding a much needed steady source of income. He is practically forced by his father to take the vaccine, and we see the pain and fear in his father’s eyes as he is forced to put his child through what was at the time an experimental procedure which few believed could actually work. Levinson’s script excels in these moments, as it demonstrates the bitter hardships facing the Phipp’s family, and how their desperation to get out of it, or perhaps more their desperation to survive, led to the breakthrough in Jenner’s vaccination and the eradication of smallpox. However, whilst Levinson’s script is excellent in portraying this through its subtleties, its dialogue is rather crude and altogether uninteresting, failing to add anything more, and, in some moments, even complicating the story. Furthermore, Oakley’s direction, whilst competent, fails to imbue the film with the creativity needed to elevate it beyond being categorised as purely educational, and means that the film is thoroughly lacking in drama. Nevertheless, despite a lack of drama throughout, ‘James’ is an interesting and informative watch, which both excels and falls down on key creative decisions. About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Outfit film review by UK film critic George Wolf. Starring Mark Rylance, Zoey Deutch directed by Graham Moore. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Outfit Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: George Wolf | Posted on: Mar 17, 2022 Directed by: Graham Moore Written by: Jonathan McLain, Graham Moore Starring: Mark Rylance, Zoey Deutch The opening minutes of The Outfit give us a master tailor named Leonard (Mark Rylance) describing his process. We see him measuring fabric, cutting and sewing while he outlines his skill in sizing up customers to give them what they most deserve. Wait..is he still talking about suits? Maybe, maybe not. The setting is Chicago in 1956, where Leonard and his dreaming-of-a-better-life secretary Mable (Zoey Deutch) conduct business while local mobsters use Leonard’s shop to retrieve messages from a nationwide crime syndicate known as the Outfit. One night after a shootout with a rival mob, gangsters Richie (Dylan O’Brien) and Francis (Johnny Flynn) barge into the shop in need of help and refuge. Richie, the son of local boss Roy (Simon Russel Beale) has been shot, and soon most everyone involved will have to fight to survive the long night. Oscar-winning screenwriter Graham Moore (The Imitation Game ) adds directing duties this time as well, for a nifty big screen debut that often homages early Kubrick and classic Hitchcock. Essentially a two-room chamber piece, the film leans on a terrific ensemble to roll out a steady stream of delicious twists, relishing the nimble noir wordplay and skillfully keeping Moore’s sleight-of-hand from tipping its hand too early. Fellow Oscar-winner Rylance (Bridge of Spies ) is the perfect choice to bring Leonard to life, displaying a seemingly casual excellence right in line with who Leonard seems to be. Will underestimating the quiet shopkeeper prove to be a deadly mistake? Or is it Leonard who will learn a painful lesson tonight? Rylance peels pack the layers slowly, and Moore has good instincts for the pacing that allows for maximum fun. Deutch proves again that she’s a natural, making the most of a more limited role that still boasts an impressive ratio of secrets-to-screen time. Despite getting a little too cute for the room come finale time, The Outfit is a solid directing debut for an acclaimed screenwriter. And while you can’t help feeling that this salute to the brainy introvert may be a personal one for Moore, it’s artful and engaging enough to rope in anyone who loves untangling a well-fitted suit of clues. About the Film Critic George Wolf Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Tallulah Denyer writes movie reviews for UK Film Critic. As one of the talented UK film critics, find out more here. Tallulah Denyer Writer for UK Film Review. Follow On Twitter Read My Film Reviews