Chicken

2014

1h 26m

Drama

List

100%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

55%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

A 15-year-old's optimistic view becomes difficult to maintain when his brother's behavior worsens, and he feels torn between loyalty to his brother or getting closer to his first female friend.

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Jackson S

Chambers acting is amazing. Must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/26/24

Full Review

Ken R

After reading about this oddity, looked forward to it being a thoughtful character study with heart and a message – a message it has but perhaps little heart. It's a low budget indie production that features a surprisingly stylized look. This comes via the talents of short and TV director of photography Eben Bolter's professional work ethic. He, along with some committed work by first-time director Joe Stephenson, give it a better than average look. Performances are mostly borderline with Morgan Watkins perhaps faring best as the brutish, utterly despicable older ‘brother'. He's given some OK backup from Scott Chambers in the difficult role of Richard the younger ‘brother'. It's difficult to call this entertainment and fits better into the modern social expose' of all that's despicable about heavily failed family relationships - and the grotty characters who prey on the vulnerable. Lovely country locations are about the only pleasing aspects on display here with maybe a little help from a cute chicken. Tom Linden supplies a thoughtful music score - adding what little warmth can be taken from a heavy study of all that's wrong within an immoral society. Interesting but grueling and depressing with limited sustaining relief, that might perhaps leave some wondering if the makers may have been enjoying the negativity a little too much (?)

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/01/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Incredible British indie film. Very dark with amazing acting performances.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A promising debut this, it doesn't all work (and when Paige arrives on screen she really acts the two male leads off of it) but when it does, it's moving and certainly makes you want to see more of what Stephenson the Director has to offer. A slight film, but a little gem.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Seemed a bit slow to start but transpired into a disturbing and interesting film about extremes of family ties

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Amazing acting and a heartbreaking yet hopeful story of loss, poverty, disability and compassion. Really difficult to describe but well worth the time to experience.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Joe Stephenson

Director

Scott Chambers

Richard

Yasmin Paige

Annabell

Morgan Watkins

Polly

Gina Bramhill

Tara

Michael Culkin

McClint

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Jessica Kiang

Variety

A remarkably solid and sincere look at lives marginalized several times over, collected around an achingly honest breakout turn.

Jan 17, 2018

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Bolter's widescreen cinematography captures the warmth, loneliness and harsh reality of this disenfranchised world with unobtrusive aplomb.

Rated: 4/5

May 22, 2016

Full Review

Elisa Adams

Little White Lies

A grand mixture of dark and light, that's not afraid to discuss tough topics in a refreshing way.

Rated: 3/5

May 20, 2016

Full Review

Alexa Dalby

Dog and Wolf

Joe Stephenson's Chicken quietly creeps up on you and tugs at your heartstrings.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 21, 2019

Full Review

Jamie Neish

CineVue

Chicken is an admirable first offering that gradually sucks you in the more patience you invest. It betters itself as it progresses and showcases a trio of notable performances.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 13, 2018

Full Review

Neil Smith

Total Film

Joe Stephenson's adap of Freddie Machin's play offers a brief respite from miserabilism in the appealing friendship that develops between Richard and new arrival Annabell (Yasmin Paige).

Rated: 3/5

Jan 2, 2017

Full Review

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Synopsis

A 15-year-old's optimistic view becomes difficult to maintain when his brother's behavior worsens, and he feels torn between loyalty to his brother or getting closer to his first female friend.

Director: Joe Stephenson
Producer: Paul Fischer, Daniel Pickering, Enfys Dickinson
Screenwriter: Chris New
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 8, 2018
Runtime: 1h 26m