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God's Creatures

2022

Anna Rose Holmer, Saela Davis

Emily Watson, Paul Mescal, Aisling Franciosi, Toni O'Rourke ...

5.5

578

Drama A psychological drama set in a rain-swept Irish fishing village, God's Creatures focuses on a mother who lies to protect her son and the devastating impact that choice has on her community, her family and herself.

	Media	Author	Review
		Peter Bradshaw The Guardian	"A movie which has some dramatic redundancy and is sometimes submerged too deeply in its own sense of tragic destiny. But it is fiercely acted by its excellent cast (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"
		Guy Lodge Variety	"Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer's surprising follow-up to 'The Fits' lacks that film's tactile lyricism, but gives the long-underused Watson the vehicle she deserves."
		Kate Erbland IndieWire	"Powerful performances from stars Emily Watson and Paul Mescal add spark to the film, which is both totally immersive and oddly underbaked"
		Fionnuala Halligan Screendaily	"The essence of God’s Creatures is fascinating as we watch the force of women row back against the status quo (...) Watson’s commanding performance is a real plus."
		David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter	"If the drama is a touch too sluggish about tightening its grip, the emotional power of the final act is considerable."
		Neil Smith Total Film	"Ultimately, it's the performances that you'll leave remembering (...) Effective atmospheric psychological drama (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Gregory Ellwood The Playlist	"While the entire cast is superb, it's the rich performances from Watson and Mescal who elevate the material beyond that aforementioned air of familiarity"
		Lex Briscuso SlashFilm	"In 'God's Creatures', the way it forces the audience to look at themselves as harshly as its characters, is not only the film's sturdy foundation but its greatest emotional asset"
		Stephanie Bunbury Deadline	"Two stellar performances anchor 'God's Creatures', giving both body and soul to a story that could feel thinly predictable in lesser hands (...) A quietly gloomy story of modest people, but told with majesty"
		Helen O'Hara Empire	"It’s bleak and understated, but strong performances and a thorny moral maze give this considerable power despite the gloomy skies (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"
		Wendy Ide The Guardian	"A well-acted Irish drama marred by a routine plot (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"
		Rory O'Connor The Film Stage	"Davis and Holmer's deft direction keeps things compelling here, skilfully leaving plenty of things unsaid and with the confidence to allow key events to happen offscreen or in the margins"
		Derek Smith Slant	"The uniformly strong cast and the sensorial details are enough to keep it afloat, but one wishes it was more willing to pierce its protagonists’ icy exteriors (...) Rating: ★★½ (out of 4)"
		Lou Thomas Time Out	"Watson and Mescal are exceptional (...) [The] assured cinematography [and] an ominous score help maintain the almost palpable dread. It's just a shame that [the film] is less than the sum of its parts (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"
		Katie Walsh The Wrap	"An intense and insightful portrait of women in extreme situations"
		Donald Clarke Irish Times	"A fascinating film whose writers and directors have whittled their unsettling premise down to bony slivers that, without recourse to wilful ambiguity, ask the viewers to fill in more than a few gaps (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Jason Gorber rogerebert.com	"While there are few true narrative surprises in the telling, it's intoxicating to watch Watson navigate all her character's emotions on her immensely expressive face"
		Tara Bennett IGN	"Where it does excel is in the quiet performances of Emily Watson, Paul Mescal, and Aisling Franciosi, who paint a clear picture of small-town characters bound by the ghosts of their heritage, religion, and cultural norms"
		Graeme Guttmann Screen Rant	"[It] is an unnerving rural gothic tale with two quietly fierce performances that make the film's slow burn to its climax worth the wait (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Kimberley Jones Austin Chronicle	"Beautifully acted and stubbornly resistant to easy catharsis (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Jack Smart AV Club	"A bleak but powerful tale"
		Kaleem Aftab Cineuropa	"Like Aileen, the movie takes its time to find its feet and occasionally threatens to veer off balance, but eventually, it hits surer ground"

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