Catch Me Daddy (2014) User Reviews

Fine Indie film of love, honour and betrayal.

[t-dooley-69-386916 · 7/10 · 14 October 2015]

The plot is fairly simple; Leila is on the run from her family, she is hiding in Yorkshire with her boyfriend Aaron. Her brother then rocks up into town with his crew of ne'er do wells and some hired hands who are also less than appealing.

They are going to leave no stone unturned in their search for the seemingly errant Leila and as ever violence begets violence and so begins a deadly chase.

Now this is a really good film; it has enough tension to make you wear the edge of your seat out. The characters are brutally realised and the acting is superb. It is visceral, taught and realistic. Made with help from Film 4 and Screen Yorkshire this is a film that has used that support wisely and given a platform to showcase some real talent. Sameena Jabeen Ahmed puts in a show stopping performance as Leila, the sometimes under rated Gary Lewis ('Outlander' and 'Filth') as Tony manages to shine – for all the right reasons - in a role that at first seemed peripheral.

This will be a film that will not be liked by some and the way things pan out is surprising, but that is fine by me I like to be challenged by a plot. Director Daniel Wolfe, who co-wrote this, has made a feature length film that he should be proud of and hopefully will lead to us seeing more from him in the very near future.

powerful but problematic

[stilladvance · 6/10 · 20 March 2015]

very powerful, and pretty impressive as a hybrid of British art- house and thriller conventions, even if these two strands of its makeup never sit entirely comfortably against each other. there's little that hasn't been seen in the films of other European socio-realist directors (i kept thinking of Ulrich seidl, Clio Bernard and Brno Dumont as well as tiny bit of ken loach, though this has little of loach's generosity or compassion) but the Wolfe's obviously know a thing or two about gut-piercing drama, they just stick too conveniently to the surface of the subject they are focusing on. it feels a little too easy to take such a sensitive subject and treat it merely as thriller fodder. yes it has some sensitive scenes, and the last scene is almost unbearable to watch (i left feeling scarred) but it is also just reveling in ethnic stereotypes in how there is not one redeemable Asian man on screen. so while you could say there are no redeeming men of any background on screen (or that it is not the job of every film to deal with this, but i would say for a film tackling this subject, and a group who are routinely represented poorly in the mainstream, it is an important detail, esp when there have been very few films dealing with these themes - catch me daddy seems close to becoming exploitation, albeit dressed up in art-house clothing), the older white bounty hunter at least appears to care somewhat, as does the white boyfriend. does it drive home the absolute horror of the situation as it should? yes. but it also relishes that horror a little too uneasily/problematically. it is essentially just reinforcing the audience's preconceived notions of Pakistani/south Asian communities, with Asian men as brutes, white men as saviours, Asian girls as victims, with little to challenge or colour around that - so while the film might appear superficially bold, its also somewhat thin on understanding its subject beyond very basic circumstances. but i imagine the Wolfe's would make good British genre movie makers, which the UK could probably do with more of. they're great filmmakers, I'm just not sure if they are particularly mature as storytellers.

A gritty raw movie worth watching

[jumpdates · 7/10 · 1 October 2015]

One word is all that I can say about this movie "Raw'. It's a movie designed not to please or entertain but just a gritty story line of a chase that unfolds into a torrential end. As you watch the movie, you start looking for clues to it's purpose and then you settle into your chair and let the movie carry you. The characters are presented in a very raw form, no refinement but unadulterated compilation of characters with dialogue that bring the film to life. You don't guess, you watch and you witness people's demons and the measures they take to bring sanity and balance to their lives. A truly well executed movie that is worth watching.

Dislike unnecessary exposition? Enjoy coming up with your own interpretations in film? If so, watch this.

[Dylman12 · 7/10 · 1 November 2015]

"Catch Me Daddy" is a type of film we, as viewers, don't see very often anymore. It's not a particularly "deep" film but it also doesn't give you any information you don't need nor does it give you silly exposition to know something within the movie. Personally, I find it easy to appreciate that kind of film-making.

Apart from some of the dialogue being hard to understand from certain characters thick accents, there are not much flaws within the film from a directing, writing, cinematography, or editing stand point. My rating is mostly based on me being a hard ass while critiquing.

With a tension building plot, very cool soundtrack, stellar performances from a couple of the cast members, and a few brutal, brutal scenes, I can recommend this film to almost anyone who doesn't mind watching a movie made in a different country from their own. Enjoy!

Great build-up leads to a flat conclusion.

[tbaio-25866 · 6/10 · 23 November 2015]

Catch Me Daddy builds suspense & tension throughout its running time. It is very engaging due to the story revolving around sympathetic lead characters. This is why it ends up being somewhat disappointing when the audience is not given a definitive conclusion to the story.

The story is pretty much a chase movie where a couple are being pursued by the brothers of the female along with hired thugs who plan to take the female back to their native home (she is from Pakistan but ran away to England to live with her boyfriend). For a simple & low budget movie, everything works; the locations, performances & action all shine. The script gains extra points when exposing the underlying tension between the English thugs & Pakistani family as well as how women are treated in Pakistani culture.....its disturbing.

Then however, just when the pace & visceral intensity are both amped up, the story is concluded. And as a result, there are many questions left open. As to what happens to certain characters, that too is rendered a mystery. In the end, it really feels as though the movie was released even though it was unfinished.

In conclusion, the film is a well shot & well told story that will leave the viewer with questions to ponder & answer for themselves.

Suspenseful

[filmbizarro · 6/10 · 5 August 2015]

"Catch Me Daddy" was a breath of fresh air for a reviewer of mostly independent horror movies like myself. Where most movies I watch try to grab your attention by being over-the-top gory, it is movies like "Catch Me Daddy" that stand out when you look over the past year of reviewing (and general movies you have watched). With their debut feature, the Wolfe brothers have brought out a unique, tough thriller that deals with family, love, religion and crime while always putting emphasis on being a thrilling on-the-run type of adventure.

Laila is a British-Pakistani girl. She works at a hair salon with cleaning up the hair from the floor. It's not a great job, but it gives her enough to survive. She lives with her boyfriend Aaron in West Yorkshire, where she is trying to stay hidden from her criminal family. When her father sends her brother and his gang, and another gang of two British guys, after her, Laila and her boyfriend have to run away.

Trust me when I say that this is not a fun adventure of hide and seek - "Catch Me Daddy" is incredibly tough and dark. The movie deals with very serious issues and it never stopped surprising me in how riveting it could get. The movie is nearly 2 hours long so at times it did feel a bit slow, and while I was mostly focused on Laila and Aaron we spend a lot of time with the different gangs as well. It adds to the overall plot and relationships between them all, but sometimes it felt like it spread itself thin.

Sameena Jabeen Ahmed is a newcomer who already comes off as a star in the lead, with an expressive personality that keeps us rooting for her. She shows her character's strengths and weaknesses in a realistic manner. It's surprising that she has not done acting prior to this movie. Obviously the movie would not be what it is without the co-star, Conor McCarron, who brings a completely different personality into the story, a rough but loving character who protects Laila with her life.

If this sounds like you would be intrigued by it, then odds are that you would be. It's a suspenseful adventure that ends on a very upcoming dark note. Equally poetic as it is packed with violent force, you won't be left unaffected. It might not make a stir as some similarly dark thrillers such as Gaspar Noé's work has, but it is absolutely a movie worth watching. The movie is distributed by Oscilloscope Laboratories and it has its US theatrical release on August 7th and VOD release on September 1st, so you can watch it sooner rather than later!

A Stunning Tragedy with a Twist...

[dudpatti · 5/10 · 12 May 2015]

'Catch Me Daddy' is a disturbingly charged and viscerally moving film with superb cinematography and timing which juxtaposes a stunning modern day Yorkshire Dales landscape with a alienated feel of tombstone... You almost expect tumbleweed to roll by at some point...

The powerful symbolism and imagery draws you into hidden world full of hidden meanings yet it still manages to challenge viewers to think about the injustices portrayed, which are real in a modern world and the uncomfortable subjects of revenge, killing for honour and respect and lawlessness.

The use of unknown actors in the lead roles is a genius move and really brings home the realism of the subject matter without sensationalising the issue of young girls and women being murdered for honour and respect.

Directed by the Wolfe brothers and produced by EMU Films, two British collaborations (and not too British) are making a name for themselves and are the ones to watch in the near future.

Popcorn film lovers avoid

[michael-kerrigan-526-124974 · 9/10 · 27 March 2021]

Just watched Catch me Daddy. Seen it twice before but it never fails to move or disturb. Tears of anger and sadness about greed, culture and religion. Doesn't make you feel good about the world, but it is real life. Entertaining? Yes 100% - but only if you like your entertainment to be challenging as I do. Laila is a Pakistani girl who finds a white british boyfriend and wants to live her life as she wants to live it. Only she has to run away to do so. Hence, catch me daddy. I don't understand the concept of 'honour killing', nor do I want to. A stunning 9 out of ten.

Expectations dashed

[Leofwine_draca · 2/10 · 28 March 2016]

On paper, CATCH ME DADDY sounds by all accounts to be a tense and exciting cross between the art-house and thriller genres, delivering something ruthless and gritty we haven't seen before. A bit like '71, the Northern Irish film. Sadly, on screen it turns out to be a complete waste of time, a movie that dashed my expectations about ten minutes in.

A lot of these modern British 'kitchen sink' movies have similar problems in a lack of decent sympathetic characters. Certainly the two leads here - the Pakistani girl and her boyfriend who spend their lives hiding out on a caravan on a Yorkshire moor - are almost entirely without merit. They're uncouth, rude, self-centred, and spend the entire running time of the movie having stuff done to them rather than being proactive. I disliked them both instantly, and those feelings didn't change throughout the movie.

The plodding, padded scripting doesn't help. The storyline is very simplistic, with lots of travelling around punctuated by bursts of sudden violence. Things are so slow that a ten minute interval is used to show the characters dancing to some rubbishy music, which I could have done without. Yes, the cinematography is dark and brooding and occasionally atmospheric, but for what? The ending is as predictable as they come and the overacting from the lead actress is off-putting. I hated this one from beginning to end.

A Dark and Breathless Ride

[Greekguy · 8/10 · 28 January 2015]

The story, torn straight from the newspapers, is simple - a young Pakistani woman is on the run from her family. Sabeena Jabeen Ahmed, who plays Laila, the object of pursuit, is terrific in this role, delivering a thoroughly believable and moving portrayal, and her co-star, Connor McCarron is equally spot-on as a young man in love and in over his head.

The achievements of the cast are matched by the excellence in direction; this is a film that keeps the viewer both involved and anxious. Between moments of sheer suspense and genuine menace there are snippets of beauty and, on occasion, the kind of incidental humour that is found in everyday life. All in all, this is an exceptional first feature film from the happily talented Wolfe Brothers

Went in blind, was gripped then left hugely disappointed

[Jester222 · 4/10 · 10 July 2022]

I had no idea what I was about to watch. Never heard or the film and bought in charity shop for a pound on blu ray.

At first it felt painfully slow. Then the tension began to mount.

Fine performances for all involved.(Except the milkshake boy!? Terrible) Gritty, realistic and gripping.

So why did they end it so disappointingly??

It wasn't original or edgy to keep the viewer dangling like that. It was just lazy and left you feeling cheated.

Lost lot of points for that.

I guess the director thought he was being cool.

Fail.

had an alright start

[LetsReviewThat26 · 3/10 · 21 May 2023]

Catch me daddy was ok in the beginning. Maybe the title is a little weird and it makes you think its a different type of film, but lets start with some possitives. The directing was pretty good and their were some nice camera shots in it. This movie can become very disturbing at times, especially a part near the end that didnt need to happen really. Its all about this girl that runs away from her father with her boyfriend, that is until her father sends his men to get her back, by any means nessisery. I think this movie couldve done with more happening, instede of long scenes of diolog where nothing really happens. Overall not a great movie, it was watchable but no more.

This broke me

[knvixen · 10/10 · 3 April 2021]

I've just watched this and I can't stop crying. What happens is real, and nobody should ever suffer this. Every actor plays their part like it's a documentary, and I'm horrified. I knew this sort of thing happens, but the brutality has crippled me.

How the night went..

[amieberriman · 8/10 · 23 July 2016]

I watched 'Catch Me Daddy' as part of the Hull Independent Cinema Project. 'Catch Me Daddy' was filmed in Yorkshire and based in West Yorkshire, about a girl who was trying to escape the claws of her fathers cultural views.

I enjoyed the film a lot because I was always questioning who the dad was, and you never fully understand the title until the end. A scene that stood out for me was when a rival gang, pretending to be 'frienemies', slit the throat of the rival gang member. I remember it because of the way it was directed. A shot of the guy being tackled in the car with a knife next to his neck, and then the long external shot of the car. The car rocked aggressively and you could hear shouting coming from within the car, and then a splat of blood cracked across window of the car from left to right in the motion that blood would of spat from his neck. The car stop shaking. You then saw the gang members haul the body out of the car and put it on the road. The car then ran over the body, 3 times, just to make sure the man was brown bread. The kill was handled in a mysterious manner and left a lot to the imagination of the viewers.

It was important to me that the film was filmed in Yorkshire and had Yorkshire cast and crew. I think it is important to promote independent film but especially that from my home land. It gives me more opportunities in the future if the buzz for film and production in Yorkshire starts to grow.

I would recommend 'Catch Me Daddy' to anyone who had an interest as it shows how some cultures can clash and what we shouldn't do to deal with this. I didn't like the fact that was it was stereotypical film and represented West-Yorkshire in a bad light, however that's just because i'm from Yorkshire and I know it has more to offer then gang crime and racial disputes. But that cannot take anything away from how beautiful the film was and how cleverly thought out the design and sound elements were. All the actors were impressive. I also enjoyed seeing Billy Elliot's dad in a totally different light, and accent.