British films in UK Cinemas and on Digital, DVD & Blu-Ray May 2019.
Here'a a look at British films hitting UK Cinemas, Digital, Blu-Ray and DVD, May 2019.
If we have missed any titles then please let us know by email contacts@britflicks.com
You can help BritFlicks & indie film by subscribing to the Britflicks YouTube Channels, BritFlicks for film trailers and BritFlicksExtra for behind the scenes.
WHITE CHAMBER is released on Digital 1st May 2019.
Set in a near future, politically turbulent UK, the opening of WHITE CHAMBER sees terrified victim – played by Shauna Macdonald (THE DESCENT) trapped and tortured in the place that gives the film its title. Her hidden aggressor – SLEEPER CELL’s Oded Fehr - even masks his voice as he pushes her to reveal her true identity. Within the confines of this inescapable, brightly lit prison cell he heats her up to point of suffocation, he freezes her to heart stopping temperatures and electrocutes her within an inch of her life. But Macdonald’s character is resolute and maintains she’s just an admin girl and not some stooge for the fascist, military government. As you begin to wonder how she might get out of this, writer/director Paul Raschid whips the rug from under you by sending the story back five days earlier. Here he shows you who Macdonald’s character really is when she is working outside the chamber.
It’s interesting to learn about the political narrative and ramifications of the white chamber’s true purpose. Hell, against the geo-political real world hate theatre of Trump and Brexit, WHITE CHAMBER’s dystopia doesn’t feel false at all. Budgetary constraints mean unpicking this situation boils down to a second act of people just talking to get that point across. All the ramped up tension and excitement of dropping us into Macdonald’s waking nightmare is lost and never recovered.
Dogmatic contained horror/thrillers like Andre Bijelic’s CUBE suffocate the viewer because, like the cast, we never know how they got there or leave the unreality they wish to escape. Once you allow logic in and show how normal(ish) the world functions right outside the walls of the white chamber the audience is reduced to playing a waiting game which is not nearly as mind crushing as seeing someone try to escape the inescapable. Stuart Wright
THE ISLE - In selected UK Cinemas from 2nd May 2019.
Synopsis: The Isle. Set in 1846, three sailors are shipwrecked on an uncharted island off the west coast of Scotland to find four lone inhabitants living in what was once a thriving community. As days pass for the promised supply ship to take them home, the sailors discover that not all is well on the seemingly friendly isle.
CANNIBALS & CARPET FITTERS is released on Digital & DVD 6th May 2019.
Synopsis: A group of carpet fitters are sent on a job to an old Country house in the middle of nowhere. However they soon discover it's a trap set up by the savage, cannibalistic family, The Hannings. The carpet fitters are forced to fight for their lives or risk ending up being the evenings dinner. Unfortunately they are not quite your typical heroes!
Returning from the short film are actors Darren Sean Enright, Jenny Stokes, Darren Maffucci and Richard Lee O'Donnell, also the writer and producer on the movie. Also starring is Doctor Strange co-star and world martial arts champion, actress Zara Phythian, Grant Stevens, Mingus Johnston, Alex Zane, Jessica-Jane Stafford, Dominic Holmes, Laura Jean Marsh, Tony Nyland, Christopher Whitlow, Phill Martin and former five-times World Kickboxing Champion and stunt performer Lee A. Charles among the cast.
SMALL TOWN HERO is released on Digital 6th May 2019, courtesy of Evolutionary Films.
Synopsis: SMALL TOWN HERO is a mockumentary-styled dark comedy, set in an idyllic rural town in England, follows the story of Pep (Simon Cassidy). A resident turned vigilante after taking the law into his own hands, fighting the crime that blights his hometown. When a newcomer with a shady past arrives however, he starts an investigation that turns him from local hero into town menace.
DEAD IN A WEEK (Or Your Money Back!) is released on Digital 6th May 2019, courtesy of The Movie Partnership.
Synopsis: After seven unsuccessful suicide attempts, William outsources the task to Leslie, an ageing hitman on the brink of retirement. But with the contract signed and death assured within a week (or his money back) William finally discovers a reason to live. However, as far as Leslie is concerned, the contract is binding…
AGAINST THE TIDES is in selected Cinemas from 10th May 2019.
AGAINST THE TIDES follows marathon swimmer, Beth French, as she sets out to conquer Oceans Seven, a challenge consisting of the seven most dangerous sea-channels in the world. For extreme swimmers, it’s the ultimate test; the equivalent to the seven peaks in mountaineering. Only a handful of people have ever completed it, but Beth aims to become the first person ever to swim all seven in one year.
It took Beth five years to prepare for the challenge, cost her tens of thousands of pounds and involved hundreds of supporters, but, driven to set an example for her autistic son and by her battle with lifelong illness M.E. (a.k.a. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), Beth travels across continents to far-flung corners of the world… where land meets sea.
Once in the water, Beth confronts jellyfish, sharks, hypothermia, wild weather and mind-numbing fatigue, along with demons from her past. Each swim can take up to 20 hours, often through the night. Immersed in the waves, Beth is in her element: “Being in water gives me freedom... it’s where I belong’.
With each swim Beth gets stronger and more determined but as her dramatic journey nears its end, Beth’s burning desire to conquer the open sea comes into heart-rending conflict with a mother’s dreams for her son in an unpredictable and emotional climax.
THE CORRUPTED is in UK & Irish Cinemas 10th May 2019.
THE CORRUPTED, a contemporary crime-thriller set in the aftermath of a bloody land grab that took place across London ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games, releases in cinemas across the UK and Ireland.
Featuring an all-star cast of British screen favourites, THE CORRUPTED follows Liam (Sam Claflin), an ex-con determined to win back the love and trust of his family, having lost everything at the hands of a local crime syndicate run by Clifford Cullen (Timothy Spall). David Hayman stars as DCI Raymond Ellery and Noel Clarke as determined police officer DS Neil Beckett. THE CORRUPTED was shot on location in East London and comes from director Ron Scalpello (MY NAME IS LENNY, BOBBY), with a screenplay by Nick Moorcroft (FINDING YOUR FEET, URBAN HYMN).
STRIKE is exclusively in Vue Cinemas from 11th May 2019.
Mungo secretly dreams of becoming a professional footballer...
Mungo Morrison is a young mole who is due to begin work at his proud father's side in their hometown's legendary gold mine. While his best friends are excited to be in the mine, Mungo secretly dreams of becoming a professional footballer. However, desperate not to upset his father, as well as being a small mole and unable to play football in bright light, Mungo sadly resigns himself to life as a miner. When the mine is forced to shut down after a mysterious accident, an evil and gold-obsessed supervillain known only as 'The Boss', attempts to bully the townsfolk into selling him the mine.
Against all odds and with a little help from his whacky friends, Mungo begins an epic adventure of thrills, laughs, action and peril, as he hurtles towards the Wild Cup football finals in Russia and a final, breathtaking showdown with 'The Boss’.
KILLER WEEKEND (FUBAR) is released on Digital 13th May 2019.
When Sam discovers his friends are taking him on a zombie survival paintball weekend for his stag, he couldn't be more chuffed – after all, what better way to spend your last few days of freedom than shooting paintballs in the woods with your mates?
But their fantasy weekend quickly goes F.U.B.A.R. when disaster strikes on the first day, leaving the stag party besieged and holed up in a disused nuclear bunker. Is it still just a game, or is it actually game over?
FrightFest Presents KILLER WEEKEND (FUBAR) is released on Digital 13th May 2019, Courtesy Of Signature Entertainment.
EYES AND PRIZE is released in the UK on DVD & Digital Platforms 14th May 2019.
Directed and written by Oliver Cane, EYES AND PRIZE follows four contestants who one by one arrive to the set of a brand new reality show beaming live 24/7 over the internet. There’s no stage manager there to meet them, no-one to tell them what to do and, locked inside, no-one tells them how long they’re going to be there for.
Daringly original with a filmic grammar like no other, EYES AND PRIZE blends the lines between arthouse tension drama and cabin fever horror as it skewers the vapid cult of instant celebrity and charts a course to the disturbing nature of unfettered vicarious entertainment.
BEATS is in UK Cinemas 17th May 2019.
Synopsis: Best mates Johnno and Spanner share a deep bond. Now on the cusp of adulthood, life is destined to take them in different directions – Johnno’s family are moving him to a new town and a better life, leaving Spanner behind to face a precarious future. In pursuit of adventure and escape the boys head out on one last night together to an illegal rave before parting ways indefinitely.
A universal story of friendship, rebellion, and the irresistible power of gathering youth, set to the soundtrack as eclectic and electrifying as the scene it gave birth to, BEATS is a story for our time.
BENJAMIN is released on Digital 13th May 2019, courtesy of Signature Entertainment.
Following it’s exceptional critical response during it’s theatrical bow in April, and it’s World Premiere at last years London Film Festival, BENJAMIN is the feature debut from the comedian, actor, writer and director Simon Amstell.
The bittersweet comedy tells the story of Benjamin (Colin Morgan) a rising star filmmaker, who is thrown into emotional turmoil on the brink of premiering his second film, when Billie, his hard-partying publicist, introduces him to a mesmeric French musician called Noah. Set among the back streets of East and North London, the film boasts original music from James Righton of the Klaxons and great performances from its cast including Colin Morgan, Phénix Brossard, Joel Fry, Jack Rowan, Jessica Raine and Anna Chancellor.
TUCKED is released in cinemas 17th May 2019, courtesy of Bulldog Distribution.
A tender heart-warming tale of love, loss and friendship, Tucked has been winning multiple international awards including both Grand Jury and Audience Awards at L.A. OUTFest and features fantastic performances from Derren Nesbitt and Jordan Stephens.
TUCKED is a raw and tender drama about Jackie (Derren Nesbitt), an ageing 80 year old drag queen who forms an unlikely friendship with Faith (Jordan Stephens), a younger queen, both struggling with their own issues of gender identity & mortality. As they discover more about each other, they realise how to truly be themselves.
The film stars Derren Nesbitt, best known for Victim, Where Eagles Dare and popular TV series such as The Persuaders and The Return of the Saint offers a sympathetic portrayal as Jackie whilst Jordan Stephens (Star Wars: Rogue One), aka ‘Rizzle’, vocalist from Rizzle Kicks, plays Faith. The film also features Sightseers’ Steve Oram (soon to be seen in TV’s Good Omens) and April Pearson (Tormented, TV’s Skins).
A charming, heart-warming tale of love, loss and friendship, Tucked is a classic British ‘slice of life’ story that echoes works like Funny Cow, Kinky Boots, The Dresser and TV’s Benidorm.
MY DAYS OF MERCY is released in Cinemas & on Digital, Friday 17th May 2019,
MY DAYS OF MERCY is powerful and heart-wrenching tale of finding love in the least-likely of places. Academy Award nominee Ellen Page (Inception) and Kate Mara (House of Cards) star in the highly compelling and moving romantic drama.
Two young women from opposite sides of fierce protests over the death penalty meet on the picket lines and form an unlikely friendship. While both deal with their respective personal issues they grow ever closer, leading to dramatic personal revelations, passion and life changing romance.
ROCKETMAN is in UK Cinemas 22nd May 2019.
Synopsis: ROCKETMAN tells the incredible human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years. The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John. This inspirational story - set to Elton John’s most beloved songs and performed by star Taron Egerton - tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture. ROCKETMAN also stars Jamie Bell as Elton’s longtime lyricist and writing partner Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as Elton’s first manager, John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Elton’s mother Sheila Farebrother.
SINK is released on DVD 27th May 2019.
SINK is a feature film, shot mainly in South East London, written and directed by Mark Gillis. It’s about a man, Micky Mason, trying to keep things together working part time/zero hours. He’s in the position, familiar to many, of looking after the generation above and below – his father is slowly losing himself to dementia and his son is finding it hard to stay clean on an estate where drugs are everywhere. Micky is fired from his latest dead end job and there’s nothing out there but more of the same. His Dad’s care home has just been bought out and they’ve put up their prices. Micky takes one look at where the local authority wants to place his Dad and brings him back to live with him in his bedsit.
He thinks they’ll be fine. He tries so hard to be. But he’s drowning.
It’s not one big thing that finally sends him over; it’s the death by a thousand cuts. He takes a course of action that is completely out of character but that seems to him to be the only way to make a REAL change. For all of them.
HERETIKS (The Convent) is released on DVD 27th May 2019.
HERETIKS sends you back in time to 17th century England and the plight of condemned witch Persephone. She’s saved from execution by the surprise intervention of Reverend Mother (Claire Higgins). A delightfully wicked negotiation with the Judge (Michael Ironside) sees secular go head to head with the word of God – the unreasonableness of the latter wins easily. Persephone is invited to atone for her past sins by devoting her life to God at Reverend Mother’s secluded Priory. After very little exposure to the customs of this strict, religious order, death doesn’t seem so bad in comparison.
Through the unfolding melodrama of fitting in and the increasingly harsh demands placed on all the young women by the vindictive sisters, secrets surface about an evil that was evoked here in Reverend Mother’s youth. Whispers and hearsay from outsiders push Persephone and co to mutiny and threatens to destroy this repressive fiefdom, but then the supernatural evil is unleashed. The girls become possessed, sisters are killed and Persephone’s allies are whittled away. Written by Stuart Wright.
FREEDOM FIELDS is in selected UK Cinemas from 31st May 2019.
FREEDOM FIELDS follows three women and their football team over five years in post-revolution Libya. Libya was only ever associated with one face: Gaddafi's. But in February 2011 it suddenly arrived on the world stage with many. Women played a key role in the Libyan revolution, initiating the first protests, lobbying, smuggling arms and cooking food on the frontlines. In the first national elections, women were voted in as key decision makers. However, after this hopeful first step, the country took a different path and women have now been squeezed out of the equation yet again. Civil war, the on-going assassinations and the rising presence of extremism is not the Libya these women had fought for… FREEDOM FIELDS is the story of three accidental activists - friends coming from different social and political backgrounds who play for their country’s female football team. Through their eyes, we see their hope, struggle and sacrifice in a land where dreams seem a luxury.
I LOVE MY MUM is in UK Cinemas 31st May 2019.
A mother (Kierston Wareing) and her son (Tommy French) inadvertently get shipped in a container from their UK home to Morocco. Without money or documents and still in their pajamas, they need to find a way to re-immigrate back into their own country.
If we have missed any titles then please let us know by email contacts@britflicks.com
You can help BritFlicks & indie film by subscribing to the Britflicks YouTube Channels, BritFlicks for film trailers and BritFlicksExtra for behind the scenes.
