Heartless (18)
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Perplexing. Philip Ridley's film starts out as a portrait of urban alienation before lurching into an occult horror trip.
Set in east London, it stars Jim Sturgess as nice-guy photographer Jamie, whose painful shyness derives from the purplish heart-shaped birthmark on his face. Late one night he photographs a hoodie whose face seems to be that of a reptilian, razor-toothed monster. What follows is a not entirely comprehensible mixture of broken-Britain realism and nutso fantasy. First, Jamie's mother and next-door neighbour are brutally murdered; then he enters an unforeseen Faustian pact with a certain Papa B who claims to be "the patron saint of random violence" and employs Eddie Marsan as his weapons man. At times you wonder whether Philip Ridley has a clear idea of where his film is going; elements of romance, of familial melodrama, of Grand Guignol struggle for a foothold into coherence. Those lizard-headed monsters, for example – are they real? If not, how do they manage to improvise flame-throwers? Ridley has attracted some top-notch performers, including Timothy Spall and Noel Clarke, but they are squandered in a film that can't decide on an identity.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments