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IMDbPro

The War Zone

  • 19991999
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
Lara Belmont in The War Zone (1999)
An alienated teenager, saddened that he has moved away from London, must find a way to deal with a dark family secret.
Play trailer2:14
2 Videos
47 Photos
  • Drama
  • Thriller
An alienated teenager, saddened that he has moved away from London, must find a way to deal with a dark family secret.An alienated teenager, saddened that he has moved away from London, must find a way to deal with a dark family secret.An alienated teenager, saddened that he has moved away from London, must find a way to deal with a dark family secret.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Tim Roth
  • Writer
    • Alexander Stuart(novel)
  • Stars
    • Ray Winstone
    • Annabelle Apsion
    • Kate Ashfield
Top credits
  • Director
    • Tim Roth
  • Writer
    • Alexander Stuart(novel)
  • Stars
    • Ray Winstone
    • Annabelle Apsion
    • Kate Ashfield
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 134User reviews
    • 85Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 12 nominations

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:14
    Trailer
    The War Zone
    Clip 1:29
    The War Zone

    Photos47

    The War Zone: Jessie (Lara Belmont) shares a quiet moment with her new baby sister, Alice.
    The War Zone: Lara Belmont, Ray Winstone face off in an intense moment.
    "The War Zone: on the beach in Devon"
    The War Zone novel cover.
    The War Zone screenplay cover.
    The War Zone, Dutch Edition
    Lara Belmont in The War Zone (1999)
    Lara Belmont in The War Zone (1999)
    Lara Belmont, Freddie Cunliffe, Tilda Swinton, and Ray Winstone in The War Zone (1999)
    Lara Belmont and Freddie Cunliffe in The War Zone (1999)
    Lara Belmont in The War Zone (1999)
    Lara Belmont in The War Zone (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ray Winstone
    Ray Winstone
    • Dadas Dad
    Annabelle Apsion
    Annabelle Apsion
    • Nurseas Nurse
    Kate Ashfield
    Kate Ashfield
    • Lucyas Lucy
    Lara Belmont
    Lara Belmont
    • Jessieas Jessie
    Freddie Cunliffe
    • Tomas Tom
    Colin Farrell
    Colin Farrell
    • Nickas Nick
    • (as Colin J Farrell)
    Aisling O'Sullivan
    • Carolas Carol
    Tilda Swinton
    Tilda Swinton
    • Mumas Mum
    Megan Thorp
    • Baby Aliceas Baby Alice
    Kim Wall
    Kim Wall
    • Barmanas Barman
    • Director
      • Tim Roth
    • Writer
      • Alexander Stuart(novel) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At a public screening of this movie during the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival, one viewer was so upset and devastated that he rose to his feet and shouted that he couldn't take any more, then headed for the exit, intending to pull the fire alarm. Director Tim Roth, who was in attendance, intercepted him at the door, and it took 20 minutes of intense conversation to calm the man down.
    • Quotes

      Tom: I saw you.

      Jessie: Saw me what?

      Tom: In the bath...

      Jessie: Yeah?

      Tom: What were you doing?

      Jessie: What do you think? I got in and he got out.

      Tom: That's not what I saw.

      Jessie: Well, that's all it was.

      Tom: Where were you?

      Jessie: It's a pretty weird thing you're suggesting if you're saying what I think you're saying. I haven't told you to f@ck off or anything, which I probably should've. Nothing happened, OK? I'd tell you.

      Tom: You couldn't.

      Jessie: Yes, I could. You OK now?

    • Alternate versions
      The R-rated US version has four minutes of footage, mostly involving incestuous acts, removed.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Man on the Moon/Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo/Cradle Will Rock/The Cider House Rules/The War Zone (1999)

    User reviews134

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Darkness in Devon.
    Tim Roth dons the directing hat for the first time and brings to the screen a shattering tale of incest and child abuse. Alexander Stuart adapts from his own novel and it stars Ray Winstone, Lara Belmont, Freddie Cunliffe and Tilda Swinton. Story is about a family who have moved from London to the Devonshire coast. The son, Tom, is unhappy and feels alienated in the new surroundings, but when he discovers a dark family secret, things become much much worse.

    It's an uncomfortable viewing experience at times, making it a film you don't readily recommend, but Roth's approach to the story gives out a powerful message without exploitation or sermonising. The script is deliberately taut and sparse, while the marrying up of the crashing waves and jagged rocks of the locale with the emotional turmoil is a deft piece of directing. The use of newcomers Belmont and Cunliffe add a potent sense of realism to the whole thing, aided no end by an intelligent screenplay that doesn't go for conventionality. Quite simply it's an unforgettable film, a claustrophobic emotional battering ram of celluloid. 9/10
    helpful•10
    2
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Feb 27, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 11, 1999 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Atlanta Films
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tim Roth's The War Zone
    • Filming locations
      • Hartland, Devon, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Channel Four Films
      • Fandango
      • Mikado Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $254,441
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,335
      • Dec 12, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $254,441
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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