Drama Reviews and Features | Little White Lies

Genre Drama

Four people standing against a wall, a man and woman in the centre, two other women either side. Casual clothing, jeans and t-shirts. Warm, earthy tones in the image.
Review

Until Dawn review – an insulting parade of tedium

by Esther Rosenfield

David F Sand­berg’s tan­gen­tial­ly relat­ed adap­ta­tion of Super­mas­sive Games’ hor­ror hit for­gets what made its video game source mate­r­i­al so great.

2
Anticipation
1
Enjoyment
1
In Retrospect
Two armed military or security personnel in combat gear, carrying assault rifles, standing in a dimly lit interior room.
Review

The Accountant 2 review – tonally wild and uneven but oddly sweet

by Hannah Strong

Ben Affleck­’s autis­tic hit­man with a gift for num­bers returns in Gavin O’Con­nor’s mis­matched action thriller.

2
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Young woman in white top and black trousers practising martial arts moves in a gym.
Review

Julie Keeps Quiet review – a slick, steely piece of storytelling

by David Jenkins

A young ten­nis star refus­es to open about an abu­sive coach in Leonar­do Van Dijl’s impres­sive fea­ture debut.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A man with dark hair pointing a gun in a dimly lit, rainy setting.
Review

Cloud review – all-time bleakest episode of Only Fools and Horses

by Josh Slater-Williams

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s lat­est treads sim­i­lar the­mat­ic ter­ri­to­ry to his pre­scient 2001 cyber­hor­ror, through the prism of an e‑commerce, vengeance-fuelled thriller.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A person standing in a dimly lit room, wearing a blue robe and holding an object in their hands.
Review

April review – eerily elusive, superbly acted and crafted

by Rafa Sales Ross

Dea Kulumbegashvili’s stark Geor­gian dra­ma fol­lows an obste­tri­cian who moon­lights as an abor­tion­ist, as she is accused of inter­fer­ing with her patients.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Group of young men in school uniforms standing together.
Review

The Penguin Lessons review – think Dead Penguins Society

by David Jenkins

Steve Coogan co-stars with a pen­guin in this gen­tle dram­e­dy from Peter Cat­ta­neo that nev­er quite match­es up to the true story.

3
Anticipation
2
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Cluttered interior of a van, with a woman sitting on a couch and a man standing. Varied colours and shapes, with items scattered throughout the space.
Review

Caught by the Tides review – moving, stirring, brilliant

by Esther Rosenfield

Jia Zhangke’s first fea­ture in six years is a sweep­ing epic anchored by the cap­ti­vat­ing Zhao Tao, his muse and most fre­quent collaborator.

4
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Two men in period attire - one in a blue cap, the other in a cowboy hat - stand next to a vintage car in a rural setting.
Review

Sinners review – links the past and present with music and blood

by Kambole Campbell

Final­ly free from the Mar­vel machine, Ryan Coogler deliv­ers the goods and then some with his music-pow­ered, genre-splic­ing latest.

3
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
5
In Retrospect
Three young men riding on a red tractor in a rural, green landscape.
Review

Holy Cow review – a bittersweet treat

by Alex Hopkins-McQuillan

Louise Cour­voisi­er crafts a mov­ing tale about cheese-mak­ing and com­ing of age, set in the rur­al French region of Jura.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Bearded man and woman embrace passionately, their faces close together.
Review

The Return review – skirts on the am-dram

by David Jenkins

Ralph Fiennes and Juli­ette Binoche star as Odysseus and Pene­lope in Uber­to Pasolin­i’s retelling of Home­r’s epic.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect