Review of We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) by Stuart K — 30 Dec 2012
Directed by Lynne Ramsey (Ratcatcher (1999) and Morvern Callar (2002)), and based on Lionel Shriver's 2003 bestseller. This is an eerie and disturbing thriller which has all the traits and conventions of a horror film, but it has two brilliant performances in it, and it explores the possibility that are children born bad or is it the way they're brought up that makes them that way? Eva Khatchadourian (Tilda Swinton) has become an outcast in her community after her son Kevin (Ezra Miller) did something absolutely evil and appalling, her house is splattered with red paint, she's abused in public by people caught up with what Kevin did.
Eva looks back at her life, asking if it was something she did wrong, Kevin was always a different child, he refused to be toilet trained and he cried a lot as a baby and wouldn't speak, but he always seemed to bond better with his father Franklin (John C.
Reilly), and he says Kevin's behaviour is all part of growing up, but Eve isn't too sure. This is frightening, but it's shot with a dreamlike precision, and Ramsey gets the best from her performers.
Swinton is always good, and Miller, after this and The Perks of Being A Wallflower, will go on to greater things, but this is not a film for everyone.
This review of We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) was written by Stuart K on 30 Dec 2012.
We Need to Talk About Kevin has generally received positive reviews.
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