Review of The War Zone (1999) by Dfw F — 30 Sep 2009

The War Zone This film as other critics both on the net and here at this rental site is Grim Tragic devastating etc looking at the horrific effects of incest on children and the family. Tom (Freddie Cunliffe) is a teenager distraught due to his family's move from London to the Devonshire countryside, where he misses his old friends.

He begins to uncover a secret sexual relationship between his 18-year-old sister, Jessie (Lara Belmont), and their father (Ray Winstone). The tension between Tom and Jessie worsens as he reveals his knowledge of the incest.

After Tom shares the secret with his mother (Tilda Swinton) - who has just given birth to a baby daughter - she confronts her husband by telephone from the hospital. Finally, Tom and Jessie murder their father in his bedroom.

They retreat to a hillside bunker, distraught and traumatized. Tom asks, "What are we gonna do?" as the film ends. While I love the film and rate it easy four stars (and even five stars) the copy I saw the transfer did not look good and clear.

Very Dark (to Dark) in places. My Other criticism would be that the film is very slow paced, and moved too slowly for my taste. Ebert thinks the silence in the film paid an important role in the film.

This film is just too quiet and too slow. Itâ??s still a very heavy movie by American standards and Roth takes great courage in tackling such a taboo subject. I will now read the book and this is one film I wish I had seen on the Big Screen for better clarity.

(I watched it on 55 inch big screen TV) Like another movie I reviewed recently (The Isle isolation plays big part in this one also) the isolation cold rain darkness of North Devon really hits the viewer hard (along with the taboo incest subject) Great Film Slow For My Taste.

Republicans and conservatives and people with closed minds (and inability to cope with nudity and incest on Screen) stay away from this film. I am not sure even teenagers with their parents should be watching this movie.

Definitely not recommended with young kids around. Most will hate this film. It takes courage even to watch a film like this.