Really liked the idea here. Furthermore any film/television programme/episode that handles a very difficult subject, one that is very important to address, relevant today and not addressed enough on visual media (perhaps because it is so daring, harrowing and not always easy to portray), deserves a lot of credit off the bat regardless of how the execution comes over. So 'A Child's Voice' did have things going for it and could have been good.
'A Child's Voice' unfortunately was a disappointment. Still respect it for what it set out to do and tackling a subject as difficult as child trafficking, but was really expecting to be moved, thrilled, illuminated and shocked by 'A Child's Voice' much more than turned out. Really hate to say this, but 'A Child's Voice' left me cold and wanting much more. If people like it good for them, but it wasn't for me and am saying this with a heavy heart and at the risk of being accused of being a heartless person.
There are good things here. It looks surprisingly decent, not amateurish, it is slickly photographed and atmospherically lit. A few harrowing moments here and there though they appear too far and between.
Sound isn't too intrusive or obvious. And the acting is not bad at all, for me it was better than average with Joseph Lopez being particularly admirable.
However, the tension and suspense isn't there and neither is anything novel or shocking beyond what one already knows about child trafficking or much that wrenches the gut or heart. Too much of 'A Child's Voice' doesn't make sense and the film is full of loose ends, implausibilities, vague motivations and too many things resolved too easily and abruptly in an often unlikely fashion. The character motivations are never delved deep into enough, with nothing revealed about those of the traffickers (a big mistake seeing as of all the characters they should have been given at least one), when there are attempts at any (too few).
Felt similarly with any of the parts intended to give 'A Child's Voice' , like the relationship between Kirsty and Tim and especially the search for the mother, an emotional core. They are underdeveloped and one questions the need for them due to them being badly given short shrift. Very little is plausible and some of it veers on the weird. The script doesn't flow and the pace doesn't ignite, often feeling meandering.
Overall, a brave subject to explore but so much more could have been done with it here. 3/10 Bethany Cox
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