The War Zone main backdrop
The War Zone main poster

The War Zone

Visit website

6.8/10 • 170

1999-06-111h 38m

Drama

When the worst of men hides in a family with no history.

An alienated teenager, saddened that he has moved away from London, must find a way to deal with a dark family secret.

Directors
Tim Roth
Writters
Alexander Stuart
Editors
Alexander Stuart, Trevor Waite

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Freddie Cunliffe

    Freddie Cunliffe

    Tom

  2. Lara Belmont

    Lara Belmont

    Jessie

  3. Ray Winstone

    Ray Winstone

    Dad

  4. Tilda Swinton

    Tilda Swinton

    Mum

  5. Kate Ashfield

    Kate Ashfield

    Lucy

  6. Aisling O'Sullivan

    Aisling O'Sullivan

    Carol

  7. Megan Thorp

    Megan Thorp

    Baby Alice

  8. Colin Farrell

    Colin Farrell

    Nick

  9. Kim Wall

    Kim Wall

    Barman

Reviews1

View Reviews
John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Feb 28, 2016

9/10

Darkness in Devon. Tim Roth dons the directing hat for the first time and brings to the screen a shattering tale of incest and child abuse. Alexander Stuart adapts from his own novel and it stars Ray Winstone, Lara Belmont, Freddie Cunliffe and Tilda Swinton. Story is about a family who have moved from London to the Devonshire coast. The son, Tom, is unhappy and feels alienated in the new surroundings, but when he discovers a dark family secret, things become much much worse. It's an uncomfortable viewing experience at times, making it a film you don't readily recommend, but Roth's approach to the story gives out a powerful message without exploitation or sermonising. The script is deliberately taut and sparse, while the marrying up of the crashing waves and jagged rocks of the locale with the emotional turmoil is a deft piece of directing. The use of newcomers Belmont and Cunliffe add a potent sense of realism to the whole thing, aided no end by an intelligent screenplay that doesn't go for conventionality. Quite simply it's an unforgettable film, a claustrophobic emotional battering ram of celluloid. 9/10

Media

  • The War Zone poster
  • The War Zone poster
  • The War Zone poster
  • The War Zone poster
  • The War Zone poster
  • The War Zone poster
  • The War Zone poster
  • The War Zone poster
  • The War Zone poster

Recommendations

  • Ritual main backdrop

    Ritual

    7.5

  • Nothing Personal main backdrop

    Nothing Personal

    6.4

  • Sister My Sister main backdrop

    Sister My Sister

    5.9

  • Boris Godounov main backdrop

    Boris Godounov

    7.5

  • Tigerland main backdrop

    Tigerland

    6.6

  • Drugstore Cowboy main backdrop

    Drugstore Cowboy

    7.1

  • Altered States main backdrop

    Altered States

    6.7

  • A Private War main backdrop

    A Private War

    6.8

  • Go main backdrop

    Go

    6.9

  • Hope Springs main backdrop

    Hope Springs

    6.3

  • The Clovehitch Killer main backdrop

    The Clovehitch Killer

    6.4

  • Munich: The Edge of War main backdrop

    Munich: The Edge of War

    6.9

  • Charlie Wilson's War main backdrop

    Charlie Wilson's War

    6.5

  • My Own Private Idaho main backdrop

    My Own Private Idaho

    7.1

  • They Call Me Trinity main backdrop

    They Call Me Trinity

    7.6

  • Robin Hood: Men in Tights main backdrop

    Robin Hood: Men in Tights

    6.6

  • The Legend of 1900 main backdrop

    The Legend of 1900

    8.3

  • Philadelphia main backdrop

    Philadelphia

    7.7

  • Modern Times main backdrop

    Modern Times

    8.3

  • Past Lives main backdrop

    Past Lives

    7.8

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
family secretsincestdevon