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Beasts Of The Southern Wild meets Neds in first-time director Paul Wright’s visually striking mix of poetic fable and social-realist drama.
Set in a remote Scottish village, it centres on Aaron (George MacKay), the sole survivor of a fishing boat tragedy that claimed five lives, including his brother.
Struggling with grief and why he was spared, Aaron begins to unravel – much to the horror of his long-suffering ma ( Red Road ’s Kate Dickie).
MacKay is marvellous, delivering lines with a Lear-like intensity, in what becomes a fascinating meditation on myth and madness.
James Mottram is a freelance film journalist, author of books that dive deep into films like Die Hard and Tenet, and a regular guest on the Total Film podcast. You'll find his writings on GamesRadar+ and Total Film, and in newspapers and magazines from across the world like The Times, The Independent, The i, Metro, The National, Marie Claire, and MindFood.