- Film Review
- Reviewed By Damon Wise
- 4 out of 5
Lionel Shriver's 2003 novel took the form of a series of letters from the mother of a teenage boy to her husband, trying to fathom how their son became a sociopathic killer. This beautifully crafted but disturbing film takes a more traditional approach, flashing backwards and forwards through the story of Eva (Tilda Swinton), a former travel writer whose love/hate relationship with her child has made her life a living hell. Swinton is excellent as the worn-down Eva, and newcomer Ezra Miller makes an indelible impression as the loathsome, conniving Kevin. However, the director is the real star here, as Glasgow-born Lynne Ramsay, with only her third feature, has fashioned a dazzling, sensory drama with a suffocating, dream-like atmosphere. The back and forth narrative makes a few plot points hard to follow, but overall this is an artful portrayal of every mother's worst nightmare.
Cast and crew
Cast
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Eva
- Tilda Swinton
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Franklin
- John C Reilly
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Kevin, teenager
- Ezra Miller
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Celia
- Ashley Gerasimovich
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Wanda
- Siobhan Fallon
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Colin
- Alex Manette
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Soweto
- Kenneth Franklin
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Smash lady
- Leslie Lyles
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Dr Foulkes
- James Chen
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Dr Goldblatt
- Lauren Fox
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Kevin, 6-8 years
- Jasper Newell
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Kevin, toddler
- Rocky Duer
Crew
- Director
- Lynne Ramsay
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