Reviews by Jennie Kermode

Order by: Date, A–Z

• 
  The Last Temptation Of Becky (2026)

  Review preview for The Last Temptation Of Becky

  Lulu Wilson’s impatient energy and Wexler’s panache are perfectly matched.

  Now a CIA field agent, Becky goes undercover in Poland to infiltrate a family running an inn at The Wolf's Lair, one of Hitler's WWII bunkers. When she learns the father, Wilhelm Reuss, plans to spark the Fourth Reich, Becky must stop him.
• 
  Home Bodies (2026)

  Review preview for Home Bodies

  The darkness in the film is balanced by humorous observations about the way that kids in general tend to take their support frameworks for granted.

  Two children, raised in total isolation by an automated house, begin to confront the mysteries of their existence after an enigmatic stranger arrives from outside.
• 
  No Rest For The Wicked (2026)

  Review preview for No Rest For The Wicked

  Jacob Møller’s cinematography brings out the mystery and danger of fog; the bright urgency of summer days, green grass and sparkling water on pale bodies; and the weight of darkness with equal surety.

  A fisherman falls in love with a rugged whaler on the isolated Faroe Islands in this unconventional vampire story.
• 
  Rubberhead: The Life And Monsters Of Steve Johnson (2026)

  Review preview for Rubberhead: The Life And Monsters Of Steve Johnson

  Though its subject may be technical, this is essentially a rock n’ roll story.

  The inside story of a monster-maker par excellence who has worked with some of the most exciting directors in the genre world.
• 
  Ancestral Beasts (2026)

  Review preview for Ancestral Beasts

  The realist approach that [Riedel] takes to the film as a whole means that when it slips out of that space, the result is truly unsettling.

  A troubled Métis woman commits to finally facing the figurative demons in her past only to uncover a literal demon living within the bowels of her rural home that she must battle before it kills her and everyone she loves.
• 
  Niko (2026)

  Review preview for Niko

  By taking us into the interior space of a type of character usually only seen from the outside, Birban Levy is able to engage with the romantic as more than an observed trope.

  In dystopian Seoul, with curfew and lockdown in effect, broke screenwriter Niko suddenly disappears. As her boyfriend Jeremy and new bestie Ji-eun try to locate her, they become unexpectedly intertwined in a love triangle.
• 
  The Origin Of Ultraman (2026)

  Review preview for The Origin Of Ultraman

  The unfussy format suits the clarity and minimalism of the Ultraman design and narratives.

  A celebration of the superhero from Nebula M78 and his appearances in films, on television, and in wider Japanese culture.
• 
  Someone's Daughter (2026)

  Review preview for Someone's Daughter

  Charismatic yet nuanced performances from both leads keep the film in balance, and though most of the dialogue is simply conversational, the subtext goes deep.

  A lawyer and a client she once successfully defended against rape are kidnapped and stranded in the Canadian wilderness together.
• 
  Big Break (2026)

  Review preview for Big Break

  The real test here will come down to how you feel about the characters.

  Years after Simple Town split up, three comics reunite with their successful ex-collaborator, leading to a fight for their lives (and careers) as it is revealed that one of them has become a serial killer.
• 
  Break Free (2026)

  Review preview for Break Free

  Fujii is a trained dancer very much at ease in the role, but it’s his ability to be both po-faced and charismatic that really makes this work.

  A middle-aged yakuza gangster finds a new direction in life after an improvised dance-off goes viral on TikTok.
• 
  Unidentified Murder (2025)

  Review preview for Unidentified Murder

  There is layer upon layer of trickery at work here, unspooled in a farcical manner which will delight some viewers and infuriate others.

  When an influencer couple's prank turns deadly, blackmail, aliens, and links to a 25-year-old missing child case emerge, plunging them into a web of mystery.
• 
  Attack On Paradise (2026)

  Review preview for Attack On Paradise

  Director Bob Colaers shows us the strain in the way that Boumazoughe fights, which is its own kind of impressive.

  Newly released after seven years in prison, Suleyman only wishes to return to Antwerp’s Paradise apartment complex and spend time with his ailing mother, but to protect her, he's going to need to fight cops and criminals alike.
• 
  Tight Lettuce (2026)

  Review preview for Tight Lettuce

  The performances here are spot on, but it’s the rich detail that really brings it to life.

  A son films his father's addiction, hoping to document his recovery; but as he sacrifices everything to save him, he must decide how much he'll lose for someone who may not want saving.
• 
  Dance Freak (2025)

  Review preview for Dance Freak

  The emotional punch is the one you won’t see coming.

  A dangerous experiment goes awry resulting in a Dance Freak running wild.
• 
  Tunnels: Sun In The Dark (2025)

  Review preview for Tunnels: Sun In The Dark

  Like all the best war movies, Tunnels is rooted in the understanding that these young people and first and foremost fighting to stay alive and to protect or avenge their friends.

  In 1967, as the Vietnam War raged, a Vietnamese revolutionary guerrilla team became the US military's top target - charged with safeguarding a secret group of intelligence agents at all costs.
• 
  Reading Lolita In Tehran (2024)

  Review preview for Reading Lolita In Tehran

  The film’s strength lies in its quieter observations of change.

  A teacher gathers students to read classic books, despite the threat from the authorities.
• 
  American Doctor (2026)

  Review preview for American Doctor

  A fourth doctor, unsuccessful in his efforts to get to Gaza, helps in whatever ways he can. This enables the film to move between intense scenes within Gaza itself, and the US, where it’s easier to breathe.

  When three American doctors — Palestinian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian — enter Gaza to save lives, they find themselves caught between medicine and politics, risking everything to expose the truth.
• 
  The Revisionist (2026)

  Review preview for The Revisionist

  It’s only Hoffman who is really able to interject some energy into proceedings – ironic given that he spends a lot of his scenes in a haze of cannabis smoke.

  A novelist struggling for inspiration tries to weave real people into her narrative, but the complications of reality threaten to overwhelm her.
• 
  Human Tide (2025)

  Review preview for Human Tide

  [David Andrew Ward's] interest is very much on the spiritual side, and here he is aided by Ryan Al Bishri’s sublime cinematography, especially in capturing those aspects of the landscape around Mecca which truly feel eternal.

  Each year, millions of Muslims embark on the sacred pilgrimage of Hajj. This documentary provides an intimate look at this spiritual journey through the eyes of six diverse groups of pilgrims.
• 
  Ghost School (2025)

  Review preview for Ghost School

  Arsalan really does have something special.

  Rabia, a ten-year-old Pakistani girl, sets out to find why her only school in the village is closed.
• 
  Roqia (2025)

  Review preview for Roqia

  Supernatural possession is closely intertwined with the idea of radicalisation, evil jinn with distorted ideology.

  After a car crash, a man returns home to his family with his face covered in bandages, suffering from amnesia. As mysterious and threatening events accumulate, he fears that he is possessed.
• 
  Displace: The Battle For Dublin (2026)

  Review preview for Displace: The Battle For Dublin

  Here you will find that perfect fusion of specificity and ubiquity that is gold to documentarians.

  As the city shifts beneath their feet, communities of all kinds endure the trauma of developer-led change, yet slowly rediscover their collective power as they refuse to be pushed out.
• 
  Rise Of The Conqueror (2026)

  Review preview for Rise Of The Conqueror

  Schwarz...plays fast and loose with the facts, except where it comes to the combat scenes, which are brilliantly staged and also attentive to detail.

  As the Mongol Empire crumbles, a battle-scarred Timur Barlas must confront a haunting destiny, and renounce his loyalties, to protect the fate of the Silk Road.
• 
  Meadowlarks (2025)

  Review preview for Meadowlarks

  It is all very gently done.

  Four siblings, torn apart by the Sixties Scoop, reunite for one week.
• 
  Et Tu (2023)

  Review preview for Et Tu

  Phillips is as careful in his portrayal as his character is in managing his reputation.

  A director is driven to madness during a regional production of Julius Caesar.
• 
  Immrám (2025)

  Review preview for Immrám

  Perhaps speculation is itself inappropriate here. Everything is focused on the present moment.

  For one full year between the harvest festivals of Samhain, Immrám follows a charismatic family who are at the centre of a growing movement that aims to reclaim indigenous Irish identity, customs, religion and language. In a post-Catholic, neo-liberal Ireland, they are attempting to propagate new cultural and religious roots in tune with nature.
• 
  The Last Viking (2025)

  Review preview for The Last Viking

  At times it feels as if Jensen is trying to spin too many plates at once, but in the moments when it all comes together, it’s a delight to watch.

  Black comedy about a man hunting for the spoils from a heist with his brother... who can't remember where it is buried.
• 
  Lethal Ethel (2026)

  Review preview for Lethal Ethel

  Its upbeat vibe and lightness of touch means it can take on serious subject matter without compromising its natural charm.

  A mockumentary about a Naskapi vampire making her first film.
• 
  Lesbian Lines (2026)

  Review preview for Lesbian Lines

  A valuable contribution to the archives and also a fascinating watch.

  A hidden history through an underground network of telephone helplines. The calls, recorded in handwritten notes, were preserved during a time of profound constitutional change in Ireland, when women were fighting for their rights in a restrictive and conservative society.
• 
  Journacide: The War On Truth (2026)

  Review preview for Journacide: The War On Truth

  Having set the stage in the first half, Murray spends the latter part of the film telling personal stories.

  As of early May 2026, over 260 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The UN and various organisations have described this as the deadliest conflict for journalists in history. With Israel’s new surge of ethnic cleansing in South Lebanon the total has now reached 28 for the same period.
• 
  An Irish Atlantic Rainforest (2025)

  Review preview for An Irish Atlantic Rainforest

  A vital piece of cinema.

  Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, An Irish Atlantic Rainforest tells the story of Eoghan Daltun, a leading climate activist at the forefront of saving native Irish oak forests in the face of climate change and political indifference on the edges of the West Coast of Ireland.
• 
  The Cure (2026)

  Review preview for The Cure

  Problems are always dealt with in the least subtle way possible, by characters and screenwriters alike.

  After making a new friend, the lonely adopted daughter of biotech billionaires becomes suspicious about the cause of the illness she's grown up with.
• 
  A Drop In The Ocean (2025)

  Review preview for A Drop In The Ocean

  When we crash against the bright surface, it is with the physical sensation that we have been in a different world.

  A documentary following two competitive freediving athletes. One is focused on breaking the deepest record in Asia, while the other aspires to claim the crown of Taiwan's top freediver. Both have received invitations to compete in the prestigious Blue Hole Vertical Blue Depth Competition.
• 
  Rich Flu (2024)

  Review preview for Rich Flu

  There is certainly some pleasing schadenfreude, but it doesn’t have the nerve to go all out, and ultimately it’s not as clever as it thinks it is.

  A strange disease threatens to kill anyone with any sort of fortune.
• 
  4000 Days (2026)

  Review preview for 4000 Days

  An important contribution to a still pertinent debate.

  A documentary about a group of parents determined to change the law after their children died during college fraternity hazing rituals.
• 
  Wetiko (2022)

  Review preview for Wetiko

  Keeping Aapo and the viewer locked into the present moment, Wetiko takes control, single-minded and multifaceted.

  In the depths of the Maya jungle, a young Maya man hired to deliver hallucinogenic toads stumbles into a spiritual war between indigenous rebels and Euro-Western seekers, led by a parasitic white shaman with a thirst for power - and blood.
• 
  Aanikoobijigan (2026)

  Review preview for Aanikoobijigan

  This is not the first documentary to explore the issue of colonial looting, but its unique angle makes it stand out.

  Trapped in museum archives, Ancestors bend time and space to find their way home. History, spirituality, and the law collide as tribal repatriation specialists fight to return and rebury Indigenous human remains, offering a revealing look at the still-pervasive worldviews that justified collecting them in the first place.
• 
  Seven Snipers (2026)

  Review preview for Seven Snipers

  We don’t get much explicit backstory, so it’s the chemistry between the actors that’s important to making this slight story convince, and for the most part, it’s there.

  A retired sniper in hiding on an Australian ranch must reunite her elite kill squad when a vengeful warlord threatens her daughter.
• 
  Colony (2026)

  Review preview for Colony

  Throughout, Yeon’s directorial skill and Byun Bong-sun’s stylish cinematography grip viewers’ attention.

  A biotechnology professor is among those trapped at a biotech conference after a rapidly mutating virus is released.
• 
  Open Endings (2025)

  Review preview for Open Endings

  Director Nigel Santos intentionally plunges us into the middle of things.

  Four queer women in their 30s who are exes-turned-best-friends navigate adulthood, love, friendship, chosen families, and everything in between.
• 
  Kraken (2023)

  Review preview for Kraken

  A satisfying eco-horror with much more monster action than most.

  New technology in use at a fish farm awakens something slumbering in the depths.
• 
  Reckless (2026)

  Review preview for Reckless

  Deon is a treat in her first major role.

  A former convict on parole must outwit cops and robbers alike to get his share of an old heist.
• 
  Speed Demon (2026)

  Review preview for Speed Demon

  Like many a familiar rail service, it suffers from delays and nothing quite works as it should – but hey, it’ll still get you from A to B.

  Aboard a runaway train, a nun struggling with her faith breaks Church rules to attempt an exorcism which just might save the day.
• 
  Madame (2026)

  Review preview for Madame

  Khebizi’s performance anchors the film.

  Laura works for Souria in a luxurious Paris mansion. Souria, kept by a Saudi prince, awaits his visits. As Laura adapts to this world of wealth and surveillance, the women bond. But Laura senses danger closing in on them both.
• 
  Stolen Kingdom (2025)

  Review preview for Stolen Kingdom

  There’s an incredibly rich supply of material here.

  A documentary following the history of misdeeds and debauchery at Walt Disney World Resort over 30 years.
• 
  Saccharine (2026)

  Review preview for Saccharine

  The complex interaction of desire and disgust is expressed through the textures of indulgent, luxurious foods juxtaposed with similarly textured body parts in a way that is both sensual and grotesque.

  A lovelorn medical student is terrorised by a hungry ghost after taking part in an obscure weight loss craze: eating human ashes.
• 
  Frida Kahlo (2026)

  Review preview for Frida Kahlo

  What this does that’s new is bring an expert understanding to the direct analysis of her work.

  The Exhibition on Screen series explores the life and work of the celebrated Mexican artist.
• 
  Forty-Two (2026)

  Review preview for Forty-Two

  There’s good attention to period detail, aided by the fact that many English towns have changed little since the 1940s.

  In an alternate 1942, Britain has fallen to Nazi Germany. A group of ordinary British people are captured by a ruthless SS officer who is determined to find a Resistance spy among them. Can they hold out under interrogation or will they crumble?
• 
  Our Planet, The People, My Blood (2026)

  Review preview for Our Planet, The People, My Blood

  With a small budget, Everitt-Lock couldn’t go everywhere that bombs were tested, but he takes in an impressive sample of affected populations.

  A documentary about the lasting effects of nuclear tests on nearby people and their descendents.
• 
  Our Hero, Balthazar (2025)

  Review preview for Our Hero, Balthazar

  Watching the two young men, you may well find your sympathies shifting – and you may wonder which of them, if either, is actually en route to becoming a killer.

  Satire sees wealthy NYC teenager Balthy make dramatic gun control videos to impress his activist crush. When an online troll targets his content, Balthy becomes convinced he's communicating with a potential school shooter and embarks on an ill-advised journey to Texas to confront him.