On this page: ALICE, DARLING | LONESOME | THE WAY OUT

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Kendrick is superb in a difficult role, grounding Alice's personality in moments of levity and camaraderie. Then when she's alone her inner demons take over, reflected in her flickering eyes and cowering physicality. It's a hugely engaging performance, and we can't help but root for her to stand up for herself. Mosaku and Horn also find surprising textures in their beefy roles, friends who speak the truth even when it hurts. And Carrick makes Simon remarkably nasty without ever tipping over into a full-on monster.

There's a sense that this is a movie on a mission. But then its story is enormously important, and it refreshingly unfolds without the usual preachy cliches. Nighy's direction is particularly strong, remaining tightly focussed on Alice's interior journey, never flinching from her hidden pain and ultimately celebrating her yearning to break free from this insidious figurative prison and determine her own path. It's the kind of movie that will save lives.

themes, language, sexuality

17.Jan.23

Even though the characters are relatively closed off about their personal feelings, there's an openness to the performances that feels raw and revelatory. Lavery has an elemental quality that's strongly charismatic; Casey controls his feelings, but feels everything strongly. In the focal supporting role, Gabriel plays Tib with slightly more obvious emotions, but he's perhaps even more complex in the way he interacts with people. Most of the vivid side characters only appear in a few scenes, but there are strong moments for Finsterer and Roberts as very different clients.

Along the way, the script cleverly subverts any awkwardness by remaining so honest about sex, knowingly touching on resonant themes around attraction, promiscuity, companionship and jealousy. Through the highs and lows of this odyssey, Boreham takes Casey into very dark corners, from suicidal thoughts to a scene of extreme degradation, which he feels like he deserves. So Casey's journey here is a coming-of-age, learning to accept himself for who he is, and to understand that maybe he's worthy of love.

themes, language, violence, sexuality

5.Mar.23

Performances are low-key and coolly understated, allowing deeper layers to emerge. Beauchamp is likeable as the scruffy nice-guy Alex, who likes how it feels when he seizes control of his life. It's easy to see why he's drawn to Shane, a hot guy who wants to help. Manning plays him with a superb blankness that hints at an agenda hidden beneath his kindness, including suggestions that he's actually a monster. The supporting cast is solid, creating realistic characters who have their own lives and opinions.

"All you do is dream," Shane says. "You never do anything." This strikes a nerve because he's the only person who speaks this honestly to Alex. Although when Alex tries this aggressive approach with others, it doesn't go well for him. Jay's writing and direction cleverly layers these ideas, but in the final act he gets a bit distracted by the demands of the genre, leaving holes in the plot and losing track of the more delicately involving character drama underneath. Still, the talented cast and crew make it worth a look.

themes, language, violence

8.Feb.23