Memorable, crazy movie

Good concept, poorly executed.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

I got that the movie was trying to say it is more sophisticated than the average zombie movie, but for me it was nothing but rubbish

This little gem of a movie from Scottish director Colm McCarthy, with screenplay by the author of the original book, MR Carey, is a clever and engaging film defying categorisation- it is at once a science fiction thriller, another a horror film and at other times a futuristic parable of the human spirit and its failings. The production values are top notch and it goes in directions you might not think it would. The entire piece is held together by the very wise casting of its young lead- a truly remarkable and nuanced performance by Sennia Nanua. Her acting throughout is a joy to behold and right up until the very last frame you don't know if she is hero or villain, or shades of both. That is quite a skill for such a young actor to pull off. The rest of the cast is generally very good and believable, especially Gemma Arterton, who plays a pivotal role and whose relationship with the child is the hook on which the tension swings. Glen Close seems to me to be mis-cast here. It's not a huge distraction but her delivery (and, to be fair, some of her lines were a bit ridiculous and would be hard for anyone to deliver with credibility) verged on the corny at times. It needed a star of the quality of Helen Mirren or Tilda Swinton to give it the necessary gravitas that it deserves and would have earned a ten star rating. But it's a solid 9. Don't let the subject matter turn you off watching this- it is much more than a simple science fiction film. It has heart and soul running through its infected little veins (joke) and could stand proudly alongside the best SF movies. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

So many reviews emphasizes the originality of this movie, and having read the book (which is quite original), I was disappointed and disagree. It's not a bad move, but it's not original. In fact I had trouble finding scenes that I had not seen variations of in other movies. Which is a shame, considering the originality of the book upon which the movie is based.

Other than Train to Busan and the early season of The Walking Dead, I'm not a fan of the mindless monsters. However, with stellar casting, detail-oriented world building, and grounded, believable characters, The Girl with All the Gifts breathes new life into the "undead."McCarthy's Girl with All the Gifts is more than a coming to age story about responsibility and adulthood. It portrays the dangers of conformity. The authority figures are scientists, teachers, and officers. They are forcing the children to learn what they teach. They are discovering a cure so that mankind can remain as is. And the movie begs us to answer the question, what does it mean to be human? To read my full review, go to alexcgates.com