When the film isn’t being didactic, there’s some good dialogue here.

~ Jennie Kermode -

When the film isn’t being didactic, there’s some good dialogue here.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It is at its most effective when honing in on the psychological and the social, looking at how easy it is for children – and adults – to find themselves in trouble.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It is at its most effective when honing in on the psychological and the social, looking at how easy it is for children – and adults – to find themselves in trouble.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A very effective piece of low budget storytelling.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A very effective piece of low budget storytelling.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Where other such tales have become overly enmeshed in their own structural entanglements, Felker has the good sense to focus on character.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Where other such tales have become overly enmeshed in their own structural entanglements, Felker has the good sense to focus on character.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of those films that’s always going to be at its best when watched in a group, this really packs in the action, with Dequenne’s intensely physical performance and Nicolas Errèra’s energetic score ensuring that it keeps its grip throughout.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of those films that’s always going to be at its best when watched in a group, this really packs in the action, with Dequenne’s intensely physical performance and Nicolas Errèra’s energetic score ensuring that it keeps its grip throughout.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Brutal, bloody and enriched with a specific dark humour.

~ Marija Lukarevska -

Brutal, bloody and enriched with a specific dark humour.

~ Marija Lukarevska -

A gorgeous piece of work.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A gorgeous piece of work.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Stuckmann and co-writer Sam Liz keep it all under tight control, even when the imagery suggests chaos or excess.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Stuckmann and co-writer Sam Liz keep it all under tight control, even when the imagery suggests chaos or excess.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A beautifully made but otherwise problematic film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A beautifully made but otherwise problematic film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

In order to explore the mystery, viewers need to courage to engage with Alter’s visions and the maze they lead into, with Mengin using surrealist techniques and colour coding to map out this journey.

~ Jennie Kermode -

In order to explore the mystery, viewers need to courage to engage with Alter’s visions and the maze they lead into, with Mengin using surrealist techniques and colour coding to map out this journey.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This may present itself as a B-movie but it’s very well crafted, at every level from the dramatic to the cinematographic.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This may present itself as a B-movie but it’s very well crafted, at every level from the dramatic to the cinematographic.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Two things elevate it. One is Yasuda’s commitment to looking in depth at the culture of the Edo period, rather than just cribbing from past jidaigeki and trying to distract us with swordplay. The other is seasoned jidaigeki actor Yamaguchi’s wonderfully sensitive and sincere performance.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Two things elevate it. One is Yasuda’s commitment to looking in depth at the culture of the Edo period, rather than just cribbing from past jidaigeki and trying to distract us with swordplay. The other is seasoned jidaigeki actor Yamaguchi’s wonderfully sensitive and sincere performance.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It’s a busy story but it flows smoothly in the hands of director Mitzi Peirone, who uses the visual language of nostalgic coming-of-age movies to tell the main part of the tale, intermittently veering off into much more experimental techniques.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It’s a busy story but it flows smoothly in the hands of director Mitzi Peirone, who uses the visual language of nostalgic coming-of-age movies to tell the main part of the tale, intermittently veering off into much more experimental techniques.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ezban does not let us look away.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ezban does not let us look away.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A Nightmare On Elm Street remains an atmospheric and genuinely unsettling film with a chilling, universally relatable central motif: sleep gets everyone in the end.

~ James Gracey -

A Nightmare On Elm Street remains an atmospheric and genuinely unsettling film with a chilling, universally relatable central motif: sleep gets everyone in the end.

~ James Gracey -

Heavy on ominous music from the outset, the film too often comes across like it’s trying to tell us what to feel rather than letting it happen naturally.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Heavy on ominous music from the outset, the film too often comes across like it’s trying to tell us what to feel rather than letting it happen naturally.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This is the kind of film that could easily be a disaster, but despite obvious budgetary limitations it acquits itself well.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This is the kind of film that could easily be a disaster, but despite obvious budgetary limitations it acquits itself well.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Yates recognises Ridley’s skill with interiorised emotion and makes the most of it.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Yates recognises Ridley’s skill with interiorised emotion and makes the most of it.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Director Jon Spira does a surprisingly thorough job, and although he isn’t able to go into depth with much of the material, this is a solid start for those interested in exploring further.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Director Jon Spira does a surprisingly thorough job, and although he isn’t able to go into depth with much of the material, this is a solid start for those interested in exploring further.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Unfortunately, despite a highly capable cast, this adaptation just doesn’t have much wind in its sails.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Unfortunately, despite a highly capable cast, this adaptation just doesn’t have much wind in its sails.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Compelling in its depiction of feudal anachronism surviving into the industrial age.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Compelling in its depiction of feudal anachronism surviving into the industrial age.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It’s inventive throughout, well worked out in terms of effects, and equipped with characters we can really get to know, with some great work even in the smallest roles.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It’s inventive throughout, well worked out in terms of effects, and equipped with characters we can really get to know, with some great work even in the smallest roles.

~ Jennie Kermode -

For all that the Hitcher is an ambiguous horror film it is also a spectacular piece of Eighties action cinema.

~ Donald Munro -

For all that the Hitcher is an ambiguous horror film it is also a spectacular piece of Eighties action cinema.

~ Donald Munro -

Dudley has a deep understanding of the visual language of the genre, and viewers who know the period well will be delighted by some of the images he presents.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Dudley has a deep understanding of the visual language of the genre, and viewers who know the period well will be delighted by some of the images he presents.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A grim picture of a nocturnal city where everything feels temporary.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A grim picture of a nocturnal city where everything feels temporary.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Everything here looks grimy, as if the film itself had been lying around in poor conditions for years, and colours and patterns are artfully mismatched.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Everything here looks grimy, as if the film itself had been lying around in poor conditions for years, and colours and patterns are artfully mismatched.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The Daemon has been billed as Lovecraftian Horror. This turns out to be less in the existentially sublime way than in the slime coming out of people’s faces way.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The Daemon has been billed as Lovecraftian Horror. This turns out to be less in the existentially sublime way than in the slime coming out of people’s faces way.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Hodierne handles the blend of styles within the film with a laid back confidence that makes it easy to lower one’s guard at the wrong moments.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Hodierne handles the blend of styles within the film with a laid back confidence that makes it easy to lower one’s guard at the wrong moments.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The popular concept of genius is thoroughly subverted here.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The popular concept of genius is thoroughly subverted here.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There’s too much reliance here on pre-existing audience emotions about certain topics, and not enough effort made to forge direct connections.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There’s too much reliance here on pre-existing audience emotions about certain topics, and not enough effort made to forge direct connections.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Mackay succeeds where [others] have failed partly because there is a deep vein of sincerity beneath the playful surface of her work.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Mackay succeeds where [others] have failed partly because there is a deep vein of sincerity beneath the playful surface of her work.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Broken Bird is primarily a character study, and Calder is its greatest asset.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Broken Bird is primarily a character study, and Calder is its greatest asset.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Levey’s enthusiasm for his subject is infectious.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Levey’s enthusiasm for his subject is infectious.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Fisher and Wood achieve a great rapport, and there’s some entertaining supporting work even though much of our time is spent in the middle of nowhere.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Fisher and Wood achieve a great rapport, and there’s some entertaining supporting work even though much of our time is spent in the middle of nowhere.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Those with a taste for B-movie excess may stay the course.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Those with a taste for B-movie excess may stay the course.

~ Jennie Kermode -

We get demonstrations of skill, from the weaving of a bracelet to the use of herbs to treat a wound, and these elements reinforce the idea that this is a real society which has developed organically over time.

~ Jennie Kermode -

We get demonstrations of skill, from the weaving of a bracelet to the use of herbs to treat a wound, and these elements reinforce the idea that this is a real society which has developed organically over time.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Emma Benestan’s poetic take on gender, power and corporeality is a deeply animal experience.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Emma Benestan’s poetic take on gender, power and corporeality is a deeply animal experience.

~ Jennie Kermode -

An irreverent, warm-hearted comedy in the tradition of Tremors.

~ Jennie Kermode -

An irreverent, warm-hearted comedy in the tradition of Tremors.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It can be difficult to keep viewers rooting for a naïve character, and Alexander does a decent job of this.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It can be difficult to keep viewers rooting for a naïve character, and Alexander does a decent job of this.

~ Jennie Kermode -

McDonald is excellent.

~ Jennie Kermode -

McDonald is excellent.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ahmed doesn’t need to include war footage for us to feel its weight and understand its shadow.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The colour elements prove all the more striking when in contrast to black and white.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The beautiful cinematography, the bluesy jazz score and the gentle pace of the film are beguiling, but Masciari makes sure that we don’t lose sight of the ridiculous.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Shot over 17 years, it mingles intimate personal moments with visceral concert footage, its musical sequences knitted together with some of the best editing you’re likely to see this year.

~ Jennie Kermode -

History comes alive in the voices of those who remember it.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The choice of hand-drawn animation and its ability to demonstrate a magical realism allows the film to find the right distance from what is being depicted.

~ Richard Mowe -

Successfully finds insight and social commentary

~ Jeremy Mathews -

The pace of the action helps Handal to pack a lot in and his framing is inventive.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A Teacher is not the most finely crafted film, but it is a cri de cœur.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The filmmaker and her crew deserve a lot of credit for even managing to capture this lifestyle – not to mention following it for five years.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Breslin, as so often, is the standout.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The observational approach works against the director, slowing down proceedings and making it hard to see the wood for the trees

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Lotus may love pretty things, but he doesn’t hold back on the gore.

~ Jennie Kermode -

With so much going on the only shame is that at this length the pirouettes in various directions are so brief, giving us a taste for ideas that are begging to be dug into further.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

While the film is generally a delight, the increasingly surreal third act can be hard to track.

~ Antoni Konieczny -

A patient, affecting study of human connection in unusual circumstances

~ Antoni Konieczny -

The irreverent score, the gothic art direction, and Mario Tosi’s kaleidoscopic, slithering cinematography coalesce into something mesmeric.

~ Antoni Konieczny -

Like its subject, the film is a fusion of styles.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Fiennes is lean in look and in performance, bringing an intensity that proves compelling.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

An overflowing life is presented to us through archival interviews and film clips, and most revealingly through on-camera insights from O’Brien herself.

~ Anne-Katrin Titze -

Fiennes is lean in look and in performance, bringing an intensity that proves compelling.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

I Am Love is social melodrama in the best traditions of Italian cinema.

~ Chris -

Anime at its very finest - lightning paced, visually stunning, feverishly creative and overrun by a logic all its own.

~ Anton Bitel -

The action is pacy but that doesn’t mean Courvoisier skims the surface.

~ Amber Wilkinson -