Review of We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) by Stevenf — 11 Feb 2013

Not much coverage surrounding this film, it had very convincing performances and a plot that would curl the greasiest of hairs, excellent and thought-provoking film, but downright disturbing.

Adapted from the 2003 book of the same name,Tilda Swinton puts in an Oscar worthy as mother Eva, who basically centres the film as we see a movie that is not of a linear nature, this help maintain the suspense and confusion as to what exactly her adolescent son Kevin had done.

Swinton's character is, in all regards, a wreck, her reluctance at taking an interest without showing fake signs of over-bearing clearly outline her regret at having children. She finds it difficult to communicate emotionally with Kevin, he often rebelled as a child, toilet training, etc. John C.Reilly puts in a more serious performance from what we are used to as Evas husband, Franklin, who continuously makes excuses for Kevin's behaviour, a particular scene involving a young Kevin attempting to blackmail his mother with the scar of broken arm that she caused, clarifies the troubles that the family face.

WNTTAK deals with the lasting effect of what having children may do to one's mental status, not necessarily the barbaric events in the conclusion of this excellent thriller, but a look at how a typical family can malfunction due to no steady relationship being present.

The performances are eerily spot on in this film, Ezra Miller is psychopathic and maniacal as Kevin, often coming across as a misunderstood individual, when the 'accidents' that occur throughout the film are brought to light, his sickly ushers at his mother but his puppy dog eyes to his father are particularly brilliant.

Reilly's character of the dad who doesn't see any wrong in Kevin, is sometimes infuriating, which is exactly what this film sets out to do.

But it is the performance of Swinton in particular that needs praised, she truly owns the screen each time she appears, her paranoid glances at her teenage son and her often blank expression in real time as the story is told from her flashbacks of family life.

Taking different time-frames worked brilliantly for this film, often the case of Eva reminiscing about her days before motherhood. Her constant fears about Kevin will no doubt keep you engrossed as to whether her concerns are indeed reality.