A Banquet

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2:15

A Banquet

2022

1h 38m

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

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67 Reviews

28%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Widowed mother Holly (Sienna Guillory) is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey (Jessica Alexander) experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith, Betsey refuses to eat but loses no weight. In an agonizing dilemma, torn between love and fear, Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs.

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Critics Consensus

If it isn't without its share of empty calories, A Banquet remains a lavishly appointed treat for fans of slow-burning horror.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Mar 16, 2022

4/5

This profoundly unnerving gastronomic horror is certainly the wrong flick to watch before a dinner date.

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Katherine McLaughlin

Little White Lies

Mar 10, 2022

3/5

A feast for the senses and a promising debut.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Mar 9, 2022

4/5

It is really unnerving.

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Joseph Tomastik

Loud and Clear Reviews

Oct 4, 2024

3.5/5

The tension, performances, and directing are great enough for me to recommend the film. Just know that you’ll be getting much more out of the experience than whatever the film has to say.

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Hector A. Gonzalez

The Movie Buff

Sep 8, 2024

C

A Banquet starts as an interesting tale of higher-power possession with a strong performance by Jessica Alexander and a nice score, but its last act is quite messy and poorly-structured. It ends up biting off more than it can chew.

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Ygraine Hackett-Cantabrana

The Geek Show (UK)

Jul 9, 2024

It is through the use of everyday things such as scraping plates, blenders and close up of mouths and eyes, that Paxton is able to expertly create an uncomfortable and tense watch, lending moments of body horror to an otherwise sterile environment.

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Paul P

@RT72351684 Jul 6, 2026

Interesting but slow.

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04nicolette T

@Nicolette04 Aug 10, 2024

A “Take Shelter” vibe.

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Diana S

@DianaWho Jul 21, 2024

Presents as a possession film, but it's ultimately about the inevitable persistence of profound mental illness, especially when it's ignored, and the myriad ways in which treatments falter.

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Spitfyre 8

@RT55851780 Feb 9, 2024

Definitely a juxtaposition between plot and characterization and acting where I thought the plot didn't justify how great the actors' performances were. The performances made it watchable, but I didn't find myself really caring about the circumstances, therefore, middle-of-the-road film for me.

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Savanna C

@RT82479269 Aug 11, 2023

Honestly I really liked this movie! I can see why some would rate it low, but I truly enjoyed it. Was it chilling and thrilling and terrifying? Not in the traditional sense. The individual storylines and arcs for each character were clear and well-driven. Overall, I found it thought provoking, artistic, and emotional.

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Jan 23, 2023

A whole lot of nothing - no payoff. No sense. Good acting though.

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Ruth Paxton

Director

Sienna Guillory

Holly

Jessica Alexander

Betsey

Ruby Stokes

Isabelle

Lindsay Duncan

June

Kaine Zajaz

Dominic

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Synopsis

Widowed mother Holly (Sienna Guillory) is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey (Jessica Alexander) experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith, Betsey refuses to eat but loses no weight. In an agonizing dilemma, torn between love and fear, Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs.

Director: Ruth Paxton
Producer: Leonora Darby, Mark Lane, James Harris, Nik Bower, Laure Vaysse
Screenwriter: Justin Bull
Distributor: IFC Midnight
Production Co: Riverstone Pictures, Tea Shop Productions, Reliance Entertainment Productions 8
Genre: Horror
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 18, 2022
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.2K
Runtime: 1h 38m

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