The War Zone

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Wayne K Tim Roth's first and, surprisingly, only directorial assignment, The War Zone feels like classic gritty British (Gritish?) cinematic material: Cold, grey, weather-battered, bleak and earthy. The subject matter is heavy and undoubtedly upsetting for many, including a man who attended a public screening and was so distraught it took 20-odd minutes to calm him down. The characters are, in a sense, almost resigned to the miserableness of their lives, and that makes it all the more tragic. Tom, the character whose journey we follow, could have been made more interesting, rather than just being a stereotypically mopey teenager that's lost the ability to move his arms. But the film is right to follow him because he manages to be the least messed member up of a very disturbed family, reacting to what's happening around him as we likely would. It's got excellent performances, sensitive directing which never brings us so close to the action that we're revolted by it, but not so far away that we feel nothing. It's tough subject matter tackled in the right way, with care, sympathy and without undue judgement. It's a shame Roth hasn't done more directorial work, because that facet of his career got off to a great start. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Spoilers: This is at once a sad, even depressing story of a dysfunctional family and a cautionary tale. The opening scene when Tom comes in and Mom is there and Jessie is  there, and nobody says a word tells part of the story. Not only are these people quiet, but it seems the lack of communication is typical of the family. Mom is preoccupied by pregnancy, then a baby. Teen Tom is like a zombie after they moved from London to the countryside. Older teen sister Jessie is seemingly too familiar with Tom, sitting on a bed topless with him there. But it is a sign that she values herself only as a sex object, then we find out why. Dad is an incestuous sodomizer of his own daughter. Tim finds touching and devastatingly raw moments in this, his directorial debut, in Alexander's screenplay based on his own book. Ray and Tilda are their typically effective and professional selves, and Freddie sells the role well. But Lara is a find who ran a full gamut of emotions and self exposure, and Tim didn't cringe from the challenge of showing the saddest facts without being just sexpolitative, showing how this kind of thing could happen and surely does. So where are we at the end? The cautionary tale is that this kind of "parental" behavior can lead to explosive responses, even patricide. Tim sets us up with shots of a relatively quiet and together family, but we always have the feeling there is more to this. And the suspense is in finding out where this leads in the laconic countryside far from the city hustle bustle. Well done, Tim, a rookie director who hit one out of the park. Always liked his acting, too. The saving grace is, ironically, Tom's real love for his sister, enough that he takes on Dad, who beats him, and Tom finally ends the rape threat to Jessie via a knife, as Dad's abuse seems to have branched out to even his baby daughter. Together at the end, hiding from the world in a concrete bunker by the sea, the brother and sister wait for the other shoe to drop, content for the moment that they are alive and together. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member The War Zone isn't a terrible film, Its well shot, its very well acted, and everything about the films production team is top notch. Ray Winston as always is on top form as it Tilda Swinton. But the films main stars are Lara Belmont, and Freddie Cunliffe as the two teenagers who slow learn that the other knows more about this family then they should. Lara is exceptional in this, her first on screen role (but certainly not her last) as Jessie who is living the life of a teenager that no teenager should life. Would I recommend The War Zone, well that's the tricky question. To the majority of people I know I certainly wouldn't recommend it, but not because its a badly made film (because its not a badly made film) but because its subject matter isn't not the sort of thing that a bucker of popcorn is needed to accompany. Its perhaps one of the grimmest films that Ive seen and whilst I certainly don't doubt that the storyline of this film happens in the world, and we know it does. When it comes to films, The War Zone isn't the sort of film you say ‘oh you've not seen this, oh you should watch it, its really good' or you may find you'll lose the majority of your friends. So to those who have seen the film. All my comments about the film will make perfect sense. To those who haven't seen the film. Beware! What you'll encounter is one of the saddest and grimmest films you'll have seen for…. a long time, it not of all time. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Such peculiar relationships, almost seems unfilmable, but I think Roth does a good job letting the ambiguous, cold visuals speak for itself, not letting it be so apparent like most film adaptations. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member good acting but too dark and depressing for me. disturbing tale about family abuse and incest Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Dark, very disturbing and powerful. It takes a brutally honest and blunt approach to a sensitive and taboo subject matter such as incest and sexual abuse in a family, how it plays on guilt and shame and ultimately destroys the trust and love of a family. Fantastic acting, gorgeous cinematography and very courageous in portraying a bleak subject matter. Tim Roth made a masterpiece. One of the best films of the 90s Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The War Zone

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