The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)

A scientist and a teacher living in a dystopian future embark on a journey of survival with a special young girl named Melanie.

Director:

Colm McCarthy

Writers:

Mike Carey (novel), Mike Carey (screenplay)

Stars:

Sennia Nanua, Fisayo Akinade, Dominique Tipper

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 8 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sennia Nanua	...	Melanie
Fisayo Akinade	...	Kieran Gallagher
Dominique Tipper	...	Devani
Paddy Considine	...	Sgt Eddie Parks
Anamaria Marinca	...	Dr. Jean Selkirk
Gemma Arterton	...	Helen Justineau
Anthony Welsh	...	Dillon
Glenn Close	...	Dr. Caroline Caldwell
Mia Garcha	...	Melanie Double
Grace McGee	...	Anne
Eli Lane	...	Kenny
Connor Pratt	...	Peter
Joe Lomas	...	Joe
Will Brooks	...	Painted Boy
Joel Sheldon	...	T-Shirt Boy

Storyline

In a dystopian near future, humanity has been ravaged by a mysterious fungal disease. The afflicted are robbed of all free will and turned into flesh-eating 'hungries'. Humankind's only hope is a small group of hybrid children who crave human flesh but retain the ability to think and feel. The children go to school at an army base in rural Britain, where they're subjected to cruel experiments by Dr. Caroline Caldwell (Glenn Close). School teacher Helen Justineau (Gemma Arterton) grows particularly close to an exceptional girl named Melanie (Sennia Nanua), thus forming a special bond. But when the base is invaded, the trio escape with the assistance of Sgt. Eddie Parks (Paddy Considine) and embark on a perilous journey of survival, during which Melanie must come to terms with who she is.

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Plot Keywords:

experiment | bitten by a zombie | feral child | scientist | cure | 

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Taglines:

Our greatest threat is our only hope.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing violence/bloody images, and for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to director Colm McCarthy an influence on the style was Gareth Edwards's Monsters (2010): "I also spoke to Gareth Edwards about "Monsters" ahead of shoot. That film was a reference point." [2016]

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Goofs

Whilst the movie was filmed in 2015 the panoramic shot of central London containing the 'Gherkin' also shows the old building at 20 Fenchurch Street, which was demolished in 2008, its replacement, the 'Walkie Talkie' was completed in 2014.

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Quotes

Melanie: We're alive?
Dr. Caroline Caldwell: Yes. You're alive.
Melanie: Then why should it be us who die for you?

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Connections

References Cujo (1983)

User Reviews

Nice take on The Bodysnatchers, and the (evolved) zombie genre

Cargo and Patient Zero already proved that the zombie genre isn't dead and buried. It just needed to be reinvented and evolved. And so the genre did, or even better: the zombies.

Zombies are less presented as mindless monsters and more as an inevitable next step in the evolution and an integral part of a not too distant future. And so we have a brilliantly portrayed Melanie, who is infected, but very intelligent and able to know love, friendship and trust as she bonds with a group of human survivors trying one last time for a cure.

We live in a world that is decided by the choices that humans make. This movie makes that obviously clear, without becoming over dramatic and it keeps its entertainment value as a horror drama movie.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 January 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Girl with All the Gifts

Filming Locations:

Birmingham, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP4,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,086,096

Company Credits

Production Co:

BFI Film Fund, Creative England, Altitude Film Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1