Rent The War Zone (1999)

Unbelievably disturbing, horrifying & shocking, with powerhouse performances - The War Zone review by TB

Tim Roth has always been an exceptional actor, so when stepping behind the camera, you expect something great. When an actor with his filmography decides to direct, you know it'll be something memorable. What I didn't expect was for him to tackle a subject like this so unflinchingly, honestly and brilliantly. And it is a film which Ray Winstone has repeatedly referenced as a career highlight for him.

The War Zone introduces us to a family who have just moved to rural Devon from London. It is almost always raining outside and the alienation of being in a new place is very much present in the narrative. But there is also a constant, menacing presence which lurks in every frame: a terrible secret and continual abuse within the family.

I don't want to describe too much more, simply because the less you know, the more you'll get out of the film. But, like other films which I love which deal with difficult subject matter, absolutely no punches are pulled. The cast are totally committed, taking us down into the depths of hell which the events of this film drag us down into. Whilst everyone is exceptional, Lara Belmont is breathtaking. Her role, as the daughter Jessie, would be a role which even someone like Isabelle Huppert might shy away from. The raw vulnerability is so great, at times you can barely look at the screen. But her strength and warmth keep you hooked and unable to take your eyes off the screen.

Roth's direction and Seamus McGarvey's cinematography are incredible. Staggeringly, this to date remains the only film Roth has directed. Hopefully soon we will be treated to his talent and brilliance again.