Cinemas & Home Entertainment UK Film Releases February 2019.
BritFlicks looks at this month's UK Cinema, DVD and Digital film releases. If we have missed any or you would like to add a British film to the list, then email us at contacts@britflicks.com
CRUCIBLE OF THE VAMPIRE In UK Cinemas 1st February & on DVD/Blu-Ray 4th February 2019.
Genre: Horror
A young museum curator Isabelle (Katie Goldfinch) is sent to look at an ancient artefact, discovered in the basement of a stately home in Shropshire. Welcomed into the sprawling manor house by a seemingly hospitable family; Karl (Larry Rew), his wife Evelyn (Babette Barat) and their beautiful daughter Scarlet (Florence Cady), but all is not what it seems, as a dark and terrifying secret hangs over them.
When Isabelle discovers the truth within the mansion’s foreboding walls, can she escape the clutches of its malevolent occupants?
This immortal tale, which moves from the English Civil War to the present day, is smart, stylish, sexy and as sharp as vampire’s teeth.
POLTERHEIST is on DVD 4th February 2019.
Genre: Horror, Gangster, Comedy
Synopsis: In this “creepy and hilarious” British crime tale, two hapless small time criminals kidnap a psychic medium, forcing her to contact the gangster they murdered to find his buried cash.
Racing against the clock with fear of reprisal from a psychotic gang boss, they accidentally unleash a demon hell bent on revenge.
Blending gangsters, supernatural horror and laced with dark humour, Polterheist is already generating rave reviews as one of the most original British movies of the year. The film is co-written and directed by David Gilbank and features a talented up-and-coming cast including Jamie Cymbal, Sid Akbar Ali, Jo Mousely and Pushpinder Chani.
PRECOGNITION is released on Amazon Prime week commencing 4th February 2019.
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
Synopsis: PRECOGNITION is set in the in the near future, a man experiences terrifying visions of a past he can’t remember. His partner, who secretly works for a company that manipulates memory, attempts to uncover the mysteries surrounding them. https://www.landapictures.co.uk/precognition
REDWOOD (2017) Catch the UK TV Premiere on Horror Channel 8th February 2019 @ 9.00pm
Genre: Horror
Synopsis: After some bad news back at home, musician Josh and his girlfriend Beth head out to a secluded national park in search of some clarity on the situation they’ll face when they return. But the couple get more than they bargained for when they ignore the advice of Park
Rangers and venture off the trail, coming face to face with The Redwood’s legendary wildlife. Starring Nicholas Brendon, Tatjana Nardone, Mike Beckingham, Muzz Khan, Jessica Jane Stafford.
TIDES is available now on Digital & on DVD 11th February 2019.
Genre: Drama
TIDES Review: In Tides, four thirty- and forty-something friends meet up for a three-day reunion. Directed by Tupaq Felber, it’s a quiet unfolding of old friendships. They’re all actors. Jon (Jon Foster) is raw and on edge from a personal loss. Zooby (Jamie Zubairi) is ebullient, yet he achieves balance through his self-therapy of drawing. They hire the boat and the film starts as they shop for provisions and talk endlessly about how much each of the four should pay. Simon (Simon Meacock) and Red (Robyn Isaac) join them en route for a laughter-filled drunken first night on board as they all meet up. It’s followed by a morning of hangovers, a day of quiet chugging through peaceful waterways, broken by outbursts arising out of Jon’s struggle with a tragedy that they are failing to address.
The film is shot in black and white, though it’s not obvious why as it gives a muted feel. There’s the opportunity for dramatic photography of lush riverbanks which works best when night falls, when it provides some glowing chiaoscuro lighting effects, yet it also greys out the contrast of the gloriously sunny summer days. Perhaps it’s meant to give a verité feel that goes with the acting and naturalistic dialogue, which seems to have arisen through improvisation. There’s lots of old-friend banter, yet none of the four seems to be a particularly appealing personality. When the only woman leaves, we are left with three men talking seriously about relationships and the effect of being parents in early middle age. The film seems to meander around the dynamics of the four characters though maybe there’s a hint of its meaning in Jon’s description of a film he's remembered that was made of clips of other films. Your brain cannot help but try and construe a story, he says, from the apparently random fragments and maybe that's what's intended in Tides.
Alexa Dalby
VS. is released on Digital & DVD 11th February 2019.
Genre: Music, Drama
SYNOPSIS: A troubled foster teen (Swindells) - is introduced to the “no limits” world of UK battle-rap, where his aggression and sharp lyricism quickly makes him a controversial fan favourite. But when he doorsteps his biological mother after twelve years in care, he’s forced to face his toughest opponent yet: his past.
In VS. director, Ed Lilly (Screen Star of Tomorrow 2017), creates a dynamic world full of action, humour and roasting. Touching on themes of family, gender and sexuality the film is replete with a series of unpredictable turns that challenges the posturing machismo image of the battle rap scene.
POINT OF DEATH (In Extremis) is released on Digital 14th February 2019.
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Synopsis: Alex is a man with everything - the well-paid executive job, the impressive house in the country and the beautiful wife and child. When he inexplicably decides to leave work early one Friday nothing will ever be the same again. Within hours of his return a cataclysmic storm threatens to destroy everything around them. Isolated without power or phones this loving family descends into a nightmare of terror, violence and visions that threaten their very existence. In the confusion of past and present, Alex and his family have to face the real nature of the events - are they real or imagined? What if every parent's nightmare is happening to them?
THE EXORCISM OF KAREN WALKER is released on Digital & DVD 18th February 2019.
Genre: Horror
Synopsis: Diane and Mitch Walker inherit a house once owned by Mitch’s uncle Alexander, who was ostracised from the family after purportedly abusing Mitch’s sister Karen while dabbling with Kirlian photography. Karen has been in a somnambulistic state in an asylum ever since, but Mitch slowly begins to realise that she was not abused: indeed Uncle Alexander was trying to help her as she was possessed by an ancient demon. Enlisting the help of Alexander’s one time colleague, renowned psychic Ada Devere, he brings Karen back to the house for a terrifying confrontation with the entity trapped inside her.
BOYS ON FILM 19: NO ORDINARY BOY is released on DVD 18th February 2019.
Synopsis: As BOYS ON FILM reaches the end of its teenage years, we take a look at those unique boys; Boys who will go one step further, who excite, invigorate, and always impress. Boys who break boundaries, shape their worlds and are more than what they appear to be…
Directors: Scott T. Hinson, Abhishek Verma, Ben Allen, David Färdmar, Jannik Splidsboel, Amrou Al-Kadhi, Dean Loxton, Jake Graf, Leon Lopez, Marco Alessi
OLD BOYS is released in UK Cinemas from 22nd February 2019 with Q&A screenings in London, Bristol, Manchester & Liverpool.
Synopsis: ‘Survival of the fittest’ is the philosophy at all boys’ boarding school Caldermount. If you’re not a champion on the sports field, you’re a nobody. No one knows this better than bookworm Amberson, who’s been at the bottom of the school’s social ladder since he can remember.
When the French teacher’s fiery daughter Agnes arrives, Amberson’s life is turned upside down. He suddenly finds himself playing matchmaker for Winchester, the school’s handsome but spectacularly dim school-hero. Winchester definitely has the looks to win over Agnes but it’s Amberson who has the wits.
Will Amberson have the courage to reveal himself to her and stand up for who he really is?
A fresh and vibrant comedy, Old Boys is a modern twist on the timeless story of Cyrano de Bergerac.
SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER will be in UK Cinemas on 22nd February 2019 & Digital 25th February 2019.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Synopsis: Sharp of suit and vocabulary, Bill Nighy plays deadpan Scrabble-obsessed Merseyside tailor Alan, whose eldest son Michael stormed out of the house after a particularly heated round of the popular board game, never to return. Years later, Alan and his other son Peter (Sam Riley) continue the search while trying to repair their own strained relationship. Sometimes Always Never (which describes the way to button up a gentleman's suit jacket) comes from a witty and astute script by acclaimed screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce (24 Hour Party People), debut feature director Carl Hunter deploys a vivid visual style and striking production design to capture the shifting moods of a family who know plenty of words but struggle to communicate. The triple score-worthy supporting cast includes Alice Lowe, Jenny Agutter and Tim McInnerny.
THE HAUNTING OF BORLEY RECTORY is released on DVD 25th February 2019.
Genre: Horror
Synopsis: 1944 England. Lieutenant O’Neill, a recovering American serviceman, is sent to a remote cottage in Essex where he is instructed to monitor German airwaves. His nightmares of combat haunt him, and his rehabilitation is distracted by the discovery of the half demolished Borley Rectory and something ungodly that is still there. This evil presence follows him to the cottage and his nightmares overlap into Hell. He calls on Harry Price, the famous paranormal investigator, to come and help him solve the mystery of the nun of Borley.
TWO FOR JOY is released on Digital 25th February 2019.
Genre: Drama
Synopsis; The tension at home is palpable - something has to give. The trio decide to take a trip to their late father/husband's idyllically placed caravan, overlooking the sea. They befriend the holiday park caretaker Lias, (Daniel Mays), his unhinged sister Lilah (Billie Piper) and her daughter Miranda (Bella Ramsey). A family in the midst of their own drama. This is a portrait of modern Britain seen through the eyes of a family in crisis.
TWO FOR JOY is a visceral and moving exploration of one British family's life, navigating their way through grief in the years following their father's death. Aisha's (Samantha Morton) struggle with mental health is making home life increasingly unmanageable for her teenage daughter Vi (Emilia Jones) and young adolescent son Troy (Badger Skelton).
Vi has been forced to grow up fast, caring for her mother whilst also trying to look after Troy. With no father figure and mother-daughter roles reversed, Troy has become a law unto himself, excluded from school he spends his days cruising the estate or fishing the reservoir.
REDCON-1 is released on Blu-Ray/DVD 25th February 2018
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Synopsis: After a zombie apocalypse spreads from a London prison, the UK is brought to its knees. The spread of the virus is temporarily contained but, without a cure, it’s only a matter of time before it breaks its boundaries and the biggest problem of all… any zombies with combat skills are now enhanced.
With the South East of England quarantined from the rest of the world using fortified borders, intelligence finds that the scientist responsible for the outbreak is alive and well in London. With his recovery being the only hope of a cure, a squad of eight Special Forces soldiers is sent on a suicide mission to the city, now ruled by the undead, with a single task: get him out alive within 72 hours by any means necessary. What emerges is an unlikely pairing on a course to save humanity against ever-rising odds.
