This little gem of a movie from Scottish director Colm McCarthy, with screenplay by the author of the original book, MR Carey, is a clever and engaging film defying categorisation- it is at once a science fiction thriller, another a horror film and at other times a futuristic parable of the human spirit and its failings.
The production values are top notch and it goes in directions you might not think it would.
The entire piece is held together by the very wise casting of its young lead- a truly remarkable and nuanced performance by Sennia Nanua. Her acting throughout is a joy to behold and right up until the very last frame you don't know if she is hero or villain, or shades of both. That is quite a skill for such a young actor to pull off.
The rest of the cast is generally very good and believable, especially Gemma Arterton, who plays a pivotal role and whose relationship with the child is the hook on which the tension swings. Glen Close seems to me to be mis-cast here. It's not a huge distraction but her delivery (and, to be fair, some of her lines were a bit ridiculous and would be hard for anyone to deliver with credibility) verged on the corny at times. It needed a star of the quality of Helen Mirren or Tilda Swinton to give it the necessary gravitas that it deserves and would have earned a ten star rating. But it's a solid 9.
Don't let the subject matter turn you off watching this- it is much more than a simple science fiction film. It has heart and soul running through its infected little veins (joke) and could stand proudly alongside the best SF movies.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Review of The Girl with All the Gifts
