Writer/director Ryan J Smith’s Kid is a well shot and competent drama, which is, unfortunately somewhat cliched in a few areas. Smith manages to strike a neat balance between feel-good, yet realistic, optimism on the one hand, yet retains a sense of grit and despair when it comes to the characters’ situations on the other.
Kid tells the story of Henry (Harry McLafferty), an ambitious yet financially constrained music producer working out of his bedroom in his childhood home. Henry is caught between a rock and hard place as he is balancing the responsibilities of producing a debut album on time and under budget, as well as dealing with his sister Roxy’s (Rhiann Millington) tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend Tristan (Neizan Fernandez).
While the movies’ plot falls into your basic underdog story template, Ryan J Smith still has enough knowledge and skill as a filmmaker to understand what makes that template work in the first place. Kid keeps to a tight, conventional three act structure, which contributes to its economical pacing. A couple of scenes here and there essentially repeat a piece of dialogue or exposition from previous scenes, but these are thankfully few and far between and don’t dent the overall pace of the narrative.
Although there a few lines of dialogue in Smith’s script which are a little bit too obvious or saccharine, the movie never gets sidetracked into mawkish sentimentality – a sign of Smith’s experience as a writer. The acting in this movie is fairly workmanlike, in the sense that while nobody really gives an outstanding performance the main cast are both proficient and have a good understanding of who their characters are.
Smith’s direction and cinematography, in contrast, is something which does standout. Smith’s use of intimate angles, as well as his adoption of a darker and bolder colour scheme in the scenes where the protagonist Henry is either in a music studio or recording in his bedroom, are striking to watch. The decision for Smith to use close ups and intimate angles really works in the domestic scenes of Henry, Roxy, and Tristan living together, highlighting the tension and dissatisfaction of their situation.
Overall, Kid is a solid, well-made and decently acted drama which doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. Although it can be somewhat cheesy in a few instances it’s still a pleasant enough viewing experience that never fully turns into a John Lewis Christmas advert.
It All Comes With The Cold Water: Review. By Callum Ward.
Set against the truly stunning landscapes of Iceland, It All Comes With The Cold Water is an emotionally charged indie romance/drama that explores the complexities of love, trust and self-discovery in two young adults. Directed by Coz Greenop, the film follows Theo, a successful photographer, and Anna, his creative muse and often subject for his photos, through the highs and lows of their whirlwind romance amidst the natural grandeur of their stunning Icelandic surroundings. Split between the strength of their early connection and the unravelling further down the line, the film masterfully juxtaposes the promise of young love with darker, more complicated realities.
Jack McEvoy and Elín Hall are both exceptional as Theo and Anna respectively, bringing a layer of authenticity and depth to their roles. The pair’s chemistry throughout is without a doubt one of the high points, conveying a realistic and compelling portrayal of a young couple navigating the joys and challenges of a budding relationship while dealing with their own past traumas and hopes for the future. The dialogue between them feels natural and often witty, making their connection all the more believable. However, the film takes a darker turn as Theo’s behaviour takes an unexpected turn, and while his performance remains strong, the speed of this shift to controlling behaviour might catch viewers off-guard. Despite this, the cast handles these emotional pivots extremely well, making their character’s struggles both poignant and raw.
Look at the cinematography, It All Comes With The Cold Water is a triumph. The film captures the unadulterated beaty Icelandic landscapes with vivid, earthy shots throughout that lend the film a grand sense of scope. In the more intimate moments, the up-close camera work leaves the audience feeling like they themselves are in the midst of this complicated relationship, a testament to the direction from Greenop and the cinematography from the Director of Photography, George Burt.
The script from Writer Lucinda Royden is another standout element in the film, weaving naturalistic dialogue with deeply introspective moments throughout the course of the film. The exploration of themes such as past trauma, toxic masculinity and the search for identity is handled expertly in the film’s most powerful moments with sensitivity and depth. The narrative’s central idea—how our pasts shape the way we connect with others—resonates powerfully, even as it veers into darker territory. A conversation in particular that really stuck with me touched on the significance of first impressions and the fleeting recognition of someone’s importance in your life—a moment that encapsulates the film’s melancholic yet hopeful tone.
The movie feels cinematic and intimate in equal measure, but the pacing occasionally falters, occasionally leaving the audience slightly disorientated during key moments. Despite these minor issues, the film’s ability to blend the vastness of its setting with the intimacy of its story is truly commendable.
In conclusion, It All Comes With The Cold Water is an indie gem that offers a raw and intimate exploration of love’s complexities. With stunning visuals, excellent performances and a thoughtful and powerful script, it is a film that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll and is most definitely worth a watch.
Top 5 Awesome Video Games Inspired by Films and TV Series
When beloved films and TV shows are adapted into video games, they offer fans a unique opportunity to dive into their favourite fantasy worlds. Yes, they not only give you the chance to bet on Dota 2 pro tournaments and other events. But they also let you step into the shoes of your dearest characters and experience their universe in a more interactive way. Below, we’ll run through the best of the bunch, irrespective of genre. From heart-pounding action to eerie horror, the following are the best video games adapted from TV.
Ranking the Top 5 TV-Inspired Video Games
TV and video gaming titles have always shared a special bond, with many iconic projects of the silver screen having inspired countless games. As we learned during this compilation, there is no shortage of excellence among these adaptations. Check out our list below, and you’ll agree!
GoldenEye 007
Where else to start than the title that changed the landscape of first-person shooters? Released in 1997 for the Nintendo 64, this was inspired by the James Bond film, letting you fill the shoes with the suave secret agent. What made it a hit? The single-player campaign was packed with stealthy missions and explosive action, while the multiplayer mode became the stuff of legends with its split-screen deathmatches.
Similarly, its innovative mechanics, like the ability to aim freely and the introduction of stealth elements, meant it was miles apart of others from the get-go. Even today, GoldenEye 007 remains a classic that sets the bar for future shooters. Whether you were sneaking through enemy bases or battling friends in multiplayer, the experience was unforgettable.
Alien: Isolation
Alien: Isolation is a masterclass in survival horror that succinctly captures the essence of Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic. It was launched in 2014 and introduces players to the scary corridors of the Sevastopol Space Station through the lens of Amanda Ripley, Ellen Ripley’s daughter. The game’s greatest quality was the AI-driven Xenomorph, a relentless hunter that never stops coming after you.
Unlike typical horror titles, Alien: Isolation emphasizes stealth and strategy over brute force. As such, it’s clear that a lot of thought went into its retro-futuristic design and atmospheric tension. This is the title to pick if you’re looking for something to keep you on the edge of your seat!
Ghostbusters: The Video Game
This 2009-released title is a love letter to fans of the original movies. With themes of action and adventure, it lets you join the Ghostbusters team as a rookie recruit. The backdrop is set two years after Ghostbusters II and features the voices and likenesses of the original cast, including Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd.
What’s more, you’re in for incredible action! You get to wield a proton pack, trap ghosts, and save New York City from new paranormal threats. The gameplay involves third-person shooting and ghost-wrangling, with upgradable weapons and destructible environments.
Mad Max
Mad Max (2015) throws you into a brutal, post-apocalyptic wasteland where survival is everything. You play as Max Rockatansky, building and upgrading your ultimate combat vehicle, the Magnum Opus, to take on ruthless raiders. Its open-world design lets you explore vast deserts, scavenge for resources, and engage in intense vehicular combat.
However, what sets it apart is the gritty atmosphere and the sheer thrill of high-speed chases and explosive battles. You have an extensive range of customization options for your car, meaning it’s tailored for different combat scenarios. Combine the game’s perfect display of the chaotic, lawless universe of the Mad Max films, and you see why it’s unmissable for fans of the franchise.
Spider-Man 2
Often hailed as one of the best superhero games ever made, Spider-Man 2 was released in 2014. Based on its titular movie, it lets you swing through an open-world New York City as Spider-Man. The web-slinging mechanics were revolutionary, giving you a real sense of freedom and speed.
Its combat system was outstanding, combining acrobatics and web-based attacks to fight and defeat enemies. These were crucial on the various missions and side quests you could complete, especially when battling iconic villains like Doc Ock. The main reason we loved this field was that it captured the feel of being Spider-Man. The movement was fluid and vivid, the banger witty and the thugs unyielding. Welcome to NYC!
TV has Inspired Incredible Video Games
Do you know the best thing about TV-inspired gaming titles? They expand and enrich the original stories, giving players a chance to be more involved than even their favourite characters from the silver screen. Ready to start playing? Check out the five titles on our list for unrivalled entertainment. Alternatively, notable mentions that won’t let you down include Game of Thrones, Desperate Housewives, Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds, and Lost: Via Domus. Have fun!
There is a sense of magic and mystique surrounding Irish folklore. Whether it’s the mysterious landscapes, the existence of the supernatural, as well as fantastical elements like pots of gold at the end of the rainbow and lucky blarney stones, there’s no doubt that film directors have long been fascinated by the Emerald Isle.
Thanks to a blend of myth and cultural heritage, Ireland has delivered a bucketload of inspiration for Hollywood movie directors through the decades, inspiring films that have captivated film lovers worldwide. Below, we’ll explore some of the key narratives, deep-rooted within Irish folklore, which have thrived on the big screen.
The Supernatural
Supernatural beings are some of the most talked about aspects of Irish folklore. Have you ever encountered a selkie? The Secret of Roan Inish looks into these mythical beings which flit between human and seal form. It’s an incredibly slick movie which evokes the engaging yet melancholic tone of old-school Irish folk tales, resulting in a fusion of fantasy with raw, human emotion.
Ondine, starring Colin Farrell, is another selkie-inspired movie. Farrell plays a fisherman who is adamant that he encounters a selkie. As with The Secret of Roan Inish, Ondine also blends myth with a gritty, real-world plot. All of which goes to show the multi-faceted nature of Irish storytelling.
Folklore and Faerie Tales
Faeries are some of the best-known and best-loved figures within Irish folklore. Their cheeky and playful manner has long been central to the success of certain films through the years. Even the spooky thriller Grabbers manages to encapsulate the charm and wickedness of the Irish faeries, where weird-looking sea creatures embark on a quintessential Irish village and terrorise it.
Leprechauns are another weird and wonderful facet of Irish folklore which have a faerie tale appeal. Hollywood movie makers have also demonstrated that these smiley pint-sized characters are multidimensional and don’t just carry a whimsical image that so many feel they do. The 1993 horror-comedy, Leprechaun, is the perfect demonstration of how leprechauns can be just as malevolent as anyone else. The success of this original spawned multiple sequels and even a reboot. Leprechauns have remained a firm favourite in popular culture away from the big screen too thanks to their continued use in the world of iGaming, where titles like Rainbow Riches keep the myth alive and kicking, having been converted from a land-based slot machine game into an online slot.
There’s also a strong connection between Irish folklore and landscapes, with the Emerald Isle’s rolling hills providing the perfect backdrop for haunting spirits and banshees to prevail. The 2009 release, The Eclipse, showcased the rugged Cork coastline in all its natural glory. The movie, which has a surprisingly high score on Rotten Tomatoes, exploits many of the darkest aspects of Irish folklore, including vulnerability and grief.
Additionally, The Hallow also ticks the boxes, set in the heart of rural Ireland. This 2015 horror film leans on ancient faerie tales, including the so-called ‘hidden folk’. These are interpreted as guardians of the rolling hills of Ireland, using any means necessary, giving rise to a terrifyingly dark narrative.
Although Irish folklore is so often light-hearted and jovial, the reinterpretation of these themes in the movies mentioned underlines its endless potential for creative reinvention.
Helemaal het Einde & I Like It Rough: Review. By Aytron Lewis-Avery.
For an independent film, some may be surprised to know that Helemaal het Einde is nothing short of a psychological thriller. At first, I thought the concept was too ambitious. It turned out, I was to be pleasantly surprised. Natasja Schaafsma’s combat skills are put to good use, with a very impressive action scene towards the end.
The rest of the movie deals with all sorts of strange obsessions and histories. The set design is masterful and intricate, a perfect backdrop for the conflict set between three characters, played by Isis Caljé, Joyce Tevreden, and of course Schaafsma. The director (Milan Swagers) has also included numerous jump cuts, giving us an eerie and surreal vibe, as if the entire plot had been contrived beforehand.
In eight minutes, the director somehow managed to make a plot that has many layers of meaning. I must praise the actors’ performances. They managed to convey innuendos and messages without words, and only with their demanors. This requires a mastery of the art. Helemaal het Einde more than deserves the accolades picked up on its festival run.
Schaafsma’s other film, I Like it Rough, is a painful romantic tragicomedy, directed alongside Sierra Dann. Keith Antony Murphy does his own stunts, once again a major highlight of the film. Once again, the film is supposed to blend traditional and experimental, giving us a professional feel with a very low budget.
I Like it Rough has given us something at the same time very relatable and rather cliché. A man goes for a one-night stand, however, the two people involved have a completely different idea of what their relationship is. As the film progresses, their misunderstandings heighten until it seems like they both are living in their own worlds. The filmmaker has swallowed us up into both worlds, quite an impressive achievement. And we are to wonder: do we feel sorry or make fun of these people? This is the very definition of black comedy.
I would predict a very interesting and curious future for Schaafsma, full of surprises and remarkable artistry.
