Locke!!!!

Locke.

A man, a car, a long stretch of motorway and a phone and you have pretty much the main items that make this film what it is. Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is a concrete expert and is driving home the day before one of Europe's biggest concrete jobs and it all rests on his shoulders to pull it off. 

Taking his work boots off and sitting in his car he locks the doors and from now on his journey home will define his future. On his journey home his whole life will change, his career, family, friends and job will all slowly slip away from him and when he arrives at his destination he will be a changed man.

The film itself for me is seriously impressive, having just one actor on screen for the whole hour and a half is a risk but Tom Hardy manages to pull it off with such ease. Hardy portrays Locke with such ease and impressively with a welsh accent to boot, you see his character go through the whole up and down emotions, he can be serene and calm one minute and bashing the steering wheel in a fit of rage the next. 

The one way in which the film stands out visually and impresses on first glances is it is set at night in total darkness with just the motorway street lights in the background. It really brings out just how lonely Ivan Locke is in the darkness, encapsulated in his own little chaotic world inside his car driving to somewhere he knows will change his life totally. With constant phone calls going back and forth between Ivan and his co-workers about the big job he has to explain to everyone his intentions and why he is doing what he is doing. Other actors make voice appearances Olivia Colman, Ruth Wilson and Tom Holland all voice different people in Ivan's life and all manage to work well and help bring out at times the best and worst of Ivan.

For a film with just one main actor on screen in the small space of a car it is seriously impressive and brings out some serious acting chops for Tom Hardy. Usually cast in big action budget films we finally get to see just the pure acting skill of Tom who again portrays Ivan with ease. The camera work is perfect for me as every angle is covered and the backdrop on a dark motorway at night just shows the reflections in the windows and how the outside world can just fly by. 

Anyone who loves nothing but a tense, at times emotional yet purely acted film then do check out Locke as it is by far Tom Hardy's greatest performance on screen to date. The film has you hooked from the start, you twist and turn and guess what happens next and when you get it wrong you think it's cleverly done which it really is. A no doubt in my mind seriously impressive film that no doubt will not get the big wide consumer audience it truly deserves.

10/10.

Starred Up!!!!

Starred Up.

Violence, corruption, drugs and survival are some aspects to prison life and you certainly do need to survive while in prison. I honesty can't remember the last time I saw a film set in a prison, Bronson I think was the last film that touched upon this subject in a gritty way.

The basic plotline is Eric Love (Jack O'Connell) is a fresh faced young man given an early transfer from the Young Offender Institution to an adult prison. Being the loud mouthed, confrontational and confident person he is he doesn't quite fit in with the inmates. 

Over the course of the film he gets into trouble, fighting prison guards, attacking other inmates and basically fighting for his own survival. One man stands out from the rest Neville (Ben Mendelsohn) who sympathises with the young man and gives him some stark firm but fair advice on surviving. As situations escalate and people end up dead or injured Eric must learn to comply with the system or he will go down fast and end up dead himself.

Going to group therapy sessions he opens up abit more and talks about his father, who turns up and walks into the room. Neville is his father and the group soon learns why Eric has stayed alive for doing so many things wrong so quickly. Finally stepping in as a father both of them need to learn, to either open up and have a father/son relationship or just learn to survive and move on.

As I say this is the first prison film I've seen in a good while and it makes a difference and certainly lets the acting come across really well in confined spaces. The storyline of son meeting father in prison is clever and shows an angle to prisons that you wouldn't ever usually think about could happen. O'Connell plays Eric with such ease and confidence but then his character could be seen as a more grown up Cook from Skins. Mendelsohn portrays the broken father with hope with ease as well, learning to adapt to his surroundings he survives knowing the inner circles of the prison and gets by by any means necessary. 

I have to mention the violence which not only is impressive but in this film is necessary and something that is a need to an end to lengthen Eric's survival. Making make shift shanks out of a melted toothbrush and a razor blade shows he can be creative and still survive. The storyline of father and son is what makes it so interesting, if it was lone man trying to survive it would be too contrived and bland. Throw in a small confined place with father and son who haven't seen each other in years and its a perfect setting. 

For a small budget film set in a prison it is seriously impressive and a film that deserves so much attention. Using actors who can show and bring out that genuine quality to prison life and still make the film exciting and engaging is impressive. For anyone who likes to watch gritty, violent films showing the realistic side to life in prison then seriously watch this film.

10/10.

Robocop!!!!

Robocop.

When a "classic" film is re-hashed and put together and re-booted fans will of course always wade into the argument of what should and shouldn't be covered. For this version of Robocop we see the usual storyline of how Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) a successful police officer suffers a personal tragedy and is blown half to pieces when his car is sabotaged. Fighting for his life and on the verge of death his wife Clare Murphy (Abbie Cornish) makes the decision with the help of Dr Dennett Norton (Gary Oldman) the OmniCorp chief scientist to save her husband. With every part of his body destroyed, the only parts his own being one of his hands, his heart, his lungs and his brain he is every bit a walking talking machine. 

Robocop is born and his main purpose is to make OmniCorp look good, with robots serving the US military overseas OmniCorp wants to put the same robots on the streets but because of the Dreyfus Act they can't. To gain the public's trust Robocop is deployed onto the streets, shown to be a robot with human conscientiousness he is there to gain their trust and help OmniCorp to get rid of the Act. 

As Robocop starts to become a success people start to turn on the Dreyfus Act but being stopped of seeing his family his wife soon has to fight to get her husband back. With Alex's head filled with every crime that has taken place in the city he soon starts to reflect on his own crime and start's to feel for his son and his wife. 

With the Dreyfus Act still in place and Alex fighting to control his own emotions soon enough something will happen, will Robocop stay or will he be pulled off of the streets. 

I have to say for a film about a Robocop I felt their was too much backstory and not enough action, seeing Alex's backstory and how he came to be was all well and good but it took up too much time. With a little bit more action and being able to see him in action it would have made a far better and interesting film. Kinnaman as Robocop was at times convincing but then again he just has to act as a robot for most of the time. Gary Oldman for me raises the film and really brings across a scientist who is torn to his allegiances and also what is the best course of action morally and professionally. 

Now that we have dealt with the origins I'd like to see if a second film was to surface and maybe this time around we could see him in some proper action scenes. See what Robocop is LITERALLY made of.

6/10.

August: Osage County!!!!

August: Osage County.

What started out as a play by Tracy Letts has been transferred and made for the big screen with what is this years biggest high profile cast for a film. The original storyline is that a family is brought back together to the family home after a tragedy takes place, together they all reveal their own problems and thoughts of each other. 

The film itself takes place in the family home in Pawhuska, Oklahoma where husband and father Beverly Weston (Sam Shepard) an alcoholic poet is interviewing a young native american woman Johnna (Misty Upham) to be a stay at home cook and carer to his wife Violet (Meryl Streep) . A drug addict and woman who speaks first then thinks afterwards is certainly a handful and who has been diagnosed with mouth cancer. 

As disaster strikes the family Violet rallies round the family members to return to the family home. First is her sister Mattie Fae (Margo Martindale) and her husband Charles (Chris Cooper), next is the youngest daughter Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) the quiet single one. Barbara (Julia Roberts) the oldest arrives with her husband Bill (Ewan McGregor) and her teenage daughter Jean (Abigail Breslin). Finally middle daughter Karen (Juliette Lewis) arrives with her new fiancée Steve (Dermot Mulroney). 

Finally all assembled at the family home they all soon enough start tearing into each other, Violet lets her family know what she really thinks of everyone and lets her bitter tongue do it's work. With Barbara and Bill's seperation revealed to the whole family she is in the firing line of Violet's vicious words. As a late running Little Charles (Benedict Cumberbatch) arrives revelations are soon revealed as to who he is seeing and also the shock of his real father. The sisters sit down together at last and talk and the truth finally comes out as they open up for the first time and what they think of each other.

The family itself all turn on each other, reminiscing of old times and how each sister is so closed and apart you see the fraught situations life can throw at you. The family you see on screen is how not to be as a family in real life, people cope with life in many different ways and this family on screen does everything the wrong way. 

It has to be said Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts are seriously impressive as they are both stripped right back to just dialogue filled scenes. Streep as Violet the bitter and opinionated mother matriarch is on top form and plays the drugged up mother perfectly. Of course the scenes where we see Streep and Roberts together are just perfect as they both bounce off each other certainly are able to bring out their characters with ease. 

A film that doesn't have all the big budget effects or seat gripping thrills but what it does have is dialogue filled to the point drama and with such a big named cast they pull it off. If anything this for me has to be one of Streep's best films since The Iron Lady and is Roberts best film in years as she is taken back to basics of just acting and dialogue. For anyone who enjoys a good dialogue filled drama with top performances from top actors showing off their raw acting talent then go watch it as you'll thoroughly enjoy it. 

8/10.

Top Ten Movies of 2013!!!!

Top 10 Movies of 2013!!!!

So let me back track just a little bit to New Years Eve 2012 where I said I'd see as many films as possible in 2013 and review them all as well. Well I have kind of succeeded in this task, I have seen in total as of last year 66 films at the cinema. I have reviewed around 62 of those films with just four more reviews to finish off. 

It has been a great year for film and I know I could list so many other films I wanted to see but either couldn't find a cinema close enough to see or just didn't have time. I've seen massive epic special effect films like Gravity, Thor: The Dark World, Pacific Rim, The Wolverine and I have seen quirky impressive independent films like Short Term 12, Drinking Buddies, Ain't Them Bodies Saint's, You're Next and many many more. 

So out of the 66 films I have seen this year which ones have made my top ten. Well I have decided to just list the films and not put them in 1-10 order as they're all impressive films in their own way. 

So here goes:

Stoker: What was to be Park Chan-Wook's (director of Oldboy) first English spoken film in my eyes is a cinematic masterclass. The story of a family torn apart by the death of a father and the arrival of a mysterious uncle who has an interest in the daughter. Subtle hints of a different underlying theme was clever and made the film one to really think and talk about. Scenes that blend together so fluidly and of course the strong yet at times weird performances from Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode make it an impressive film.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brjtL-2kE9A

Zero Dark Thirty: A film that touched upon one of the many hailed triumphs for the United States of America, the hunting down and killing of Osama Bin Laden the then most wanted terrorist in the world. Set in Pakistan it shows the story of agent Maya who works tirelessly for years to track him down. Fast paced scenes of chases and information coming in it shows the meticulous intelligence work that the agents go through day by day. Bomb attacks and random shootings show how dangerous Pakistan can be and what can happen when the agents get deeper and deeper into the terrorists world. Juxtaposing for the last quarter the film it slows right down, a single night vision view is shown as your right in the thick of the siege on the compound. In my eyes it is one of 2013's biggest successes and a well deserved Oscar/BAFTA Nomination for Jessica Chastain's portrayal of Maya.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxC_JNz5Vbg

Short Term 12: This has to be one film this year that really took me by surprise and really did hit me emotionally as it is an exquisite film. The story of a foster home called Short Term 12 it shows a place for troubled teens looked after by Grace (Brie Larson) and her boyfriend Mason. Focusing on two particular teens Jayden a self harmer who respects no-one and Marcus who is just  turning 18 and ready to leave the foster home. Three scenes in particular with Marcus and Jayden will hit you right in the stomach and in an instant raise your spirits right back up. Strong performances by Brie Larson, Keith Stanfield and Kaitlyn Dever make it an impressive film and bring out characters you really feel for and go along with on their individual emotional journeys.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8QxAYxNRgs

Gravity: Visually stunning, amazing, incredible, their are so many words to describe this film, four and a half years in the making Alfonso Cuaron and his son Juan have made an unforgetable film. As the Hubble Telescope is hit by flying debris Ryan (Sandra Bullock) and Matt (George Clooney) are hurtled into outerspace and are thrown into the darkness. Both of them try to survive and make it back to Earth but at what cost?. The film is in my eyes amazing, it disorientates, makes you breath fast and at times causes motion sickness which is something you don't get from other films. I have to mention the special effects as when you watch it you think it's real documentary footage but it's not, an incredible film everyone should go and see and in 3D.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTiKOy59o4

  

Nebraska: The latest film from director Alexander Payne and it sees the most simplest and yet endearing stories to hit the screen this year. An ageing man with onset dementia Woddy Grant (Bruce Dern) receives a scam letter in the post saying he has won a million dollars and needs to go to Lincoln, Nebraska to receiver his winnings. Constantly picked up by the police who spot him walking along the main roads his son David (Will Forte) soon enough caves in and decides to drive him to Nebraska. Diverting to their hometown of Hawthorne you see how his close family including his brothers and his old friends treat him when they learn he has a million dollars. It's the warm sentiment, little quips and reactions of the characters that make you laugh so much. Another great film from Payne it will no doubt see Bruce Dern, June Squibb and Payne nominated for multiple awards come awards season.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT5tqPojMtg

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty: A late entry to the list and still in cinemas this film really made me smile and just sucked me right into the film. Directed and starring Ben Stiller I wasn't too keen at first but this is a more serious role for Stiller and he really impressed me. Walter Mitty is a man who lives a normal life but zones out and imagines things that could happen inside his head. Threatened with losing his job and having to find photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) for the photo for the last copy of LIFE magazine Walter goes off on an adventure. Walter soon learns to live his life to the full and stop living inside his head, doing things he would never usually do he gains the confidence he has always wanted. Stiller is perfect as a more serious actor and certainly impresses behind the camera as a director. A warm, life affirming and entertaining film for all the daydreamers of the world.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Xk-yTuFEU

You're Next: Now some people will be confused as to why I have put this into my top ten and my reasons are quite valid. Advertised as a horror, home invasion film it shows a family being picked off one by one by masked invaders. But the film has a brilliant little twist to it which surprised me and definitely made the film alot more interesting. As a lone girl fights back she turns out to be the saving grace for the family and their only way to survive. To be honest I found the film to be a really black comedy film as the way in which people are killed had me in pieces with laughter and I'm not saying I have a twisted sense of humour. For anyone who likes the home invasion, threat style film with a lone blonde girl fighting back and want a big laugh then check it out.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufUQWpEkbf0

Pacific Rim: I have to admit I am biased at times when it comes to films and for me this is in my top ten because I am a massive Guillermo Del Toro fan. His first directorial film in almost five years it has him return in fine form with a giant robot VS Kaiju monster film. With earth under threat the jaeger program is formed to defend the world against the giant monster invaders. Raleigh and Mako drift to pilot Gypsy Danger and fight back for one last time to rid the world of the Kaiju monsters. I followed this film through production photos leading up to its release and to see GDT back on fine form with this style of film made me smile immensely. Looking at the making of book with the artwork and the meticulous design that went into the film really made the film stand out for me. A giant monster VS giant robot film directed by a giant director and artist in the fantasy film genre.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5guMumPFBag

The Way Way Back: This was a hard film to choose as I wanted a comedy that really stood out and I have seen many comedys this year that have impressed. None more so than this one, Duncan a young boy dragged along to his mothers boyfriends holiday retreat he is out of place and has no friends at all. Finding by accident the local water park he gets himself a job and soon enough he starts to have fun and enjoy himself. Having to contend with the ups and downs of his mothers relationship and also having to learn to grow himself he learns alot about life and what to get out of it. The film is written, directed and also stars Nat Faxon and Jim Rash who bring out the funniest parts of the characters but also leave the charm in their to see as well. A really funny film that has a big massive heart in the middle of it and lets people know that life is what you make it and to not let anyone drag you down. Out on DVD now and in shops to buy for anyone who likes The Descendants, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine then check this film out NOW.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwNo1i3jkCo

Ain't Them Bodies Saints: A Bonnie and Clydeesque film that for me brought in the styles and workings of many other impressive directors. Set in southern USA you follow the story of a outlaw couple who survive by stealing and hiding out in an abandoned house. As they both give themselves up in a shoot out at the house he goes to jail and she ends up alone in a house and has to bring up their unborn first child. As he breaks out of jail and goes on the run the film turns its attentions to her relationship with the local police officer who takes a liking to her but will this happiness last?. The film for me is a triumph as the cinematography and visual imagery in the scenes is very Terrence Malick it has that use of light and beauty that is brought out on screen and makes it staggering to watch. Also the use of sound be it the long silence or the sound of crickets in the background it just transports you right into the heart of Texas. A visual treat that has strong performances from Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck and yet has the substance script wise to bring a lost souls style sentiment.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga0c0v-stK0

So this is my top ten list of films for 2013 and I hope anyone who reads this has either seen a few of them or at least goes out and watches them at some point. I wanted to create a list that is diverse and doesn't have the obvious films you would expect. 2014 is turning out to be yet another big year in film and with awards season starting up quite soon it will be interesting to see who takes what award this year. So for you all I hope you had a great film filled 2013 and have an awesome time this year in 2014 for yet more great films to come. 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire!!!!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The second film in The Hunger Games book trilogy this film has alot of anticipation and of course the return to screen for the Oscar winning actress Jennifer Lawrence. 

The film of course starts as we see the changed lives of Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) who live in a seperate winners village. Travelling around the various districts to thank them and to show the world their true love for each other they have to keep the people peaceful. 

President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland) is constantly watching the couple and advises Katniss that she convinces the people of the districts her love for Peeta to keep the peace of face the consequences. With some advice from Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) he wants Katniss dead so he changes the 75th annual hunger games reaping. The winners from the past 74 hunger games will be chosen to represent their district in the 75th hunger games (The Quarter Quell) which means Katniss and Peeta will be fighting to survive yet again. 

With the build-up to the hunger games Katniss and Peeta must make allies to fight with when in the arena to survive. Each competitor showing off their skills most of them are impressed with Katniss's archery skills and decide to be allies with her. Finally in the arena they are all up against different various challenges, raving mad baboons, acid gas, a river of blood and flocks of mockingjays they have a big task ahead of them. With everything against them, the threat of their families being killed and President Snow set on having Katniss dead what will happen to Katniss and Peeta?

The film itself is a big improvement from the first one and it has a great pace to it, building up from all the preperation your soon enough thrown right into the action. Seeing Katniss and Peeta back in the arena and this time with alot more allies gives a more unified feel to the 75th quarter quell. The different elements in which they are up against is a great idea as they are not only fighting for survival but also fighting the elements as well. 

Jennifer Lawrence is again just on fine form and you can tell she has become an impressive actress who falls into the character of Katniss so easily and no doubt she'll get better and better. The supporting cast of Hoffman, Sutherland, Harrelson and newly added Jena Malone and Sam Claflin give the film a bit more variety and brings in more characters to progress through the film.

For a second film in the hunger games franchise it is a step up and really impresses, with the same director on board for Mockingjay Part 1 you can expect something just as impressive and action filled with yet more big name actors added to the franchise. 

9/10.

Blue Jasmine!!!!

Blue Jasmine.

Now I'll admit I'm not a massive Woody Allen film fan, in fact this would be my first Allen film I have seen and it's on a big screen. With this in mind I will review the film as I see it as a stand alone film with no bells and whistles reverting back to Allen's past films as I have no knowledge on that at all. 

Landing in San Fransisco we first see Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) get off her plane from New York to go and live with her less fortunate sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins) in her cramped flat. Learning about how Jasmine has gone from riches to rags in a matter of months you see how her husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) had done some dodgy business deals and had taken alot of peoples money.

Now for Jasmine life is hard as she tries to work out what she can do in life, interior design is one idea and she decides to go back to school to learn how to use a computer. With flashbacks to her previous life with Hal you see Jasmine is a more materialistic person who has everything she could ever ask for, jewellery, clothes, expensive cars, grand dinners and lots of money. 

With the tension rising between the two sisters they argue about how different their lives were and how similar there lives are now. For Jasmine it is hard as she has to adjust to a different way of living from now on and has to learn to compromise and take what is necessary to survive even if be it working reception at a dentist office. Both sisters go through the motions with finding love and happiness and always seem to be the ones who lose everything.

The comedy comes through in little one liners, from Jasmine "can you not shout my prozac hasn't kicked in yet" just little quips that make you chuckle. Jasmine's sheer stupidity as well is interesting to see as she had everything but did nothing but now she has nothing and has to do everything for herself again. 

For me it is a great short funny comedy which showcases what can happen in life when you have it all it can all be taken away in a heartbeat. I have to say this has to be Blanchett's career defining performance as she plays Jasmine perfectly, she laughs, she worries and she cries and you feel every single emotion with her. Considering this was my first ever full Allen film and at the cinema it was really enjoyable and no doubt I will no go educate myself and watch Annie Hall and Manhattan to see what the hypes about. 

But do believe the hype of this film as it is a great situation comedy with some really strong performances especially from Blanchett. For any Woody Allen film fans you will absolutely love this film as I know I did.

8/10.

You're Next!!!!

You're Next.

When it comes to horror films I tend to stay away mainly because the "horror" films put out in cinemas tend to be more of the jumpy kind and tend to be less blood filled. I haven't seen any blood filled horror films this year at the cinema until now, You're Next has plenty of blood and gore.

As the story starts we see a young couple enjoying their down time together, as the guy showers and walks back into the main room he see's a massive "You're Next" scrawled on the wall and see's his partner dead on the floor in a pool of blood.

Soon enough we see the Davison family one by one arrive at their holiday home out in the remote Missouri woods. As the family sit down to their first meal things go from bad to worse as metal crossbow arrows come flying through the windows and one hits a member of the family. As the family realise they are under attack they all become hysterical and try and work out what to do next as an unlikely person steps up. Erin (Sharni Vinson) steps up to take charge and soon enough directs the family as to what to do to survive.

As the three masked gang, Tiger, Fox and Lamb masks take on Erin they all are surprised by what they're up against as Erin fights back. As traps are set and Erin picks up whatever she can and uses it as a weapon as the death toll soon rises and Erin is fighting for only her own survival. As the true nature of the invaders is revealed it will side swipe you and is not anything you would think would happen which is always good.

I can't give too much away as the film has a basic storyline to it but it's the action and really black humour that sets it apart from other horror films. With a twist of the girly girl being the person who can fight back it fits and works well, giving her a good back story as to why she's a trained survivor it's not absurd. 

The way in which the deaths take place are enough especially for myself to sit there and laugh and enjoy them as they are full of blood and at times ridiculous. As you get brought into the film you soon enough take sides and get involved shouting and wanting to see people get killed. At times it can be predictable as well with working out and guessing exactly what will happen next but it's all part of the black comedy.

THE horror film of the year in my opinion, taking horror films back to how they should and used to be, full of blood, plenty of deaths, at times funny and has a nice little storyline to it. 

8/10.

Byzantium!!!!

Byzantium.

A second vampire film from director Neil Jordan and a return to ways of how a vampire film should be done, dark, sexy and filled FULL of the good red stuff, blood. Yes Byzantium is directed by the man who brought us the classic vampire film 'Interview with the Vampire'. Deciding this time to use the story/play of Moira Buffini it sees the story of a centuries old mother and daughter in modern day life struggling to stay alive.

The film starts out with audio dialogue of the daughter Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan) telling her story and how she arrived at the place that she currently lives. Cutting to a lap dancing club you see the mother Clara (Gemma Arterton) giving a client a lap dance in order to make some money. As a man arrives in the club holding a picture of Clara she's soon being chased by him on the streets as she runs for her life, caught she leads him to her home where she beheads him with some cheese cutter wire.

Setting fire to the flat to destroy the body the mother and daughter leave and end up in a small sea side town where Clara meets a crying grieving client Noel (Daniel Mays). Finding out he has inherited a hotel 'Byzantium' from his deceased mother Clara befriends him and moves herself and her daughter into the hotel.

Soon enough a wandering Eleanor becomes friends with an old gentleman who invites her to his home and explains how he has read her story of her life. He accepts death and allows Eleanor to drain his blood and end his life for him, using her growing nail she slits his wrist and drains his blood. As she wanders into a hotel to play a piece by Mozart on a piano she gains an admirer in a young waiter Frank (Caleb Landry Jones) who follows her and tries to become friends. Deciding to join a college course she finally gets the chance to write about her life story and tells Frank her and her mothers secret which draws in some rather unwanted attention from her tutors. 

As the police find the burnt out flat and the old age pensioners blood drained body the mother and daughter are soon being tracked down by two men, Darvell (Sam Riley) and Savella (Uri Gavriel). Both men look and act mysterious and want to track down the mother and daughter as soon as possible.

As the relationship between the mother and daughter becomes strained and the relationship between Eleanor and Frank becomes stronger what will happen to the two bonds. Will Eleanor and Clara finally escape the sights of Darvell and Savella and how did the both of them become vampires.

The movie is interesting and brings in some different origins and ways in which vampires act and live in the real world during daylight. With the use of a growing finger nail to slice peoples wrists or necks to suck the blood out of victims is unique and a little twist on the usual fanged nocturnal vampire. The way in which they become vampires is like more of an old ritual in which they voluntarily take part in and is impressive with blood flowing waterfalls and packs of black birds swirling in the sky. 

Saoirse Ronan portrays Eleanor really well and plays the innocent young victim daughter with plenty of emotion, Gemma Arterton portrays the young mother who would do anything for her daughter well and shows how much she loves her daughter. I liked the addition of some UK tv actors like Daniel Mays and Tom Hollander as it gave it a more home UK style film and also the fact it's partly filmed in the UK as well. 

Overall it's the type of film for the people who complained about Twilight not being a vampire film, they would love this film. It's dark with plenty of blood and a brooding underlying storyline of love and loss and new relationships. There are no special effects or anything it's a straight up low budget style film that really hits every point of a vampire film. For any Twilight haters go or Twilight lovers go and watch this film and see how a proper blood filled vampire film is done.

8.5/10.