The Sand Castle

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1:57

The Sand Castle

2024

1h 38m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

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6 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

A family of four finds themselves stuck on a picturesque island hiding a shocking reality. What starts as child's play and simple ways to pass the time begins to uncover dark secrets that they struggle to keep from the youngest, Jana. As events spiral out of control and the line between reality and fiction blurs, how will Jana and her family cope with the consequences and the tough choices they must face?

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Glenn Kenny

RogerEbert.com

These characters are stranded outside of historical time, it seems, which is one of the ways that “The Sand Castle” indicates that it’s ultimately, yes, an allegory.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 24, 2025

Full Review

Razmig Bedirian

The National (UAE)

By the end of The Sand Castle, and after a suffocating viewing experience, you’re left with fragmented puzzle pieces and a faint idea of the film’s intent.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 31, 2025

Full Review

Johnny Loftus

Decider

The Sand Castle is a contemplative film of studied quiet that processes the violence in our world with the benefit, or very necessity, of a child’s boundless imagination.

Jan 29, 2025

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Martin Carr

CBR

Elevated by audacious visuals and peerless cinematography from Jeremy Snell, the movie tackles the subject of mental health with compassion and care.

Rated: 9/10

Jan 28, 2025

Full Review

Pramit Chatterjee

Digital Mafia Talkies

[If] The Sand Castle somehow compels even a single person to wake up and smell the coffee, then I guess it’s a win for Matty Brown.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 24, 2025

Full Review

Daniel Hart

Ready Steady Cut

Matty Brown’s The Sand Castle is a hauntingly beautiful and emotionally charged debut that masterfully blends survival drama with heartfelt family dynamics.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 24, 2025

Full Review

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Kyle M

Eventually thumps on surrealistic turns through performative wander but captivates nonetheless with a curious grip, till the accumulating plot twist unveils something psychologically deeper that justifies its visual transitions towards a sorrowfully insightful realization. (B)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/06/25

Full Review

Dave F

Description of movie doesn’t match what you see. Could have been done better after explaining movie at the end with credits.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

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Patricia H

An in-your-face reality of war, leading human beings to despair and global immigration. This is a beautiful film but NOT a pretty picture. If you want to continue your avoidance of what real life monsters are doing in the name of “prosperity” don’t watch this film. If you enjoy beautiful films & harsh reality in small doses, this might be a film for you. For me, it was a heartfelt journey of an immigrant family.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

Full Review

John v

This movie us so much more than the synopsis. It is a moving depiction of the struggles of an occupied people. The movie is a metaphor for what s happening to a certain group of people right now in real time.Hopefully it opens hearts and minds.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

Full Review

Audience Member

I thought this film was Beautiful! If you are into cinematography, you should definitely watch it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

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Sam A

A tense heart breaking film. Left me guessing throughout. Didn't guess the ending, but parts of it I did. Drew me in from the start. You get sucked in to feeling real fear for the family. This is a film about what people experience fleeing from a war torn country. Highly recommend! It will leave you aching and it's a film that makes impact rather than being unforgettable.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

Full Review

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Matty Brown

Director

Nadine Labaki

Yasmine

Ziad Bakri

Nabil

Riman Al Rafeea

Jana

Zain Al Rafeea

Adam

Matty Brown

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The Sand Castle: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A family of four finds themselves stuck on a picturesque island hiding a shocking reality. What starts as child's play and simple ways to pass the time begins to uncover dark secrets that they struggle to keep from the youngest, Jana. As events spiral out of control and the line between reality and fiction blurs, how will Jana and her family cope with the consequences and the tough choices they must face?

Director: Matty Brown
Screenwriter: Matty Brown, Hend Fakhroo, Yassmina Karajah
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Empire Entertainment Limited, Houston King Productions, Front Row Filmed Entertainment
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 24, 2025
Runtime: 1h 38m

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