The War Zone

12/10/19991h 38m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ When the worst of men hides in a family with no history. ~

Overview:

An alienated teenager, saddened that he has moved away from London, must find a way to deal with a dark family secret.

Director:

Tim Roth

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

family secrets
incest
devon

Cast

Freddie Cunliffe

~ as ~

Tom

Lara Belmont

~ as ~

Jessie

Ray Winstone

~ as ~

Dad

Tilda Swinton

~ as ~

Mum

Kate Ashfield

~ as ~

Lucy

Aisling O'Sullivan

~ as ~

Carol

Megan Thorp

~ as ~

Baby Alice

Colin Farrell

~ as ~

Nick

Kim Wall

~ as ~

Barman

Annabelle Apsion

~ as ~

Nurse

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

John Chard
Written 9 year(s) ago
9
Darkness in Devon.

Tim Roth dons the directing hat for the first time and brings to the screen a shattering tale of incest and child abuse. Alexander Stuart adapts from his own novel and it stars Ray Winstone, Lara Belmont, Freddie Cunliffe and Tilda Swinton. Story is about a family who have moved from London to the Devonshire coast. The son, Tom, is unhappy and feels alienated in the new surroundings, but when he discovers a dark family secret, things become much much worse.

It's an uncomfortable viewing experience at times, making it a film you don't readily recommend, but Roth's approach to the story gives out a powerful message without exploitation or sermonising. The script is deliberately taut and sparse, while the marrying up of the crashing waves and jagged rocks of the locale with the emotional turmoil is a deft piece of directing. The use of newcomers Belmont and Cunliffe add a potent sense of realism to the whole thing, aided no end by an intelligent screenplay that doesn't go for conventionality. Quite simply it's an unforgettable film, a claustrophobic emotional battering ram of celluloid. 9/10