The Girl With All The Gifts: Stylish, Subversive Zombie Thriller

Director: Colm McCarthy

Starring: Sennia Nanua, Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close, Paddy Considine, Dominique Tipper, Fisayo Akinade, Anamaria Marinca, Anthony Welsh, Lobna Futers

Rating: 15

Running Time: 111 Minutes

Release Date: 23/09/16

Set in a not too distant future where a fungal virus has infected the population of Britain with a zombie style plague, after the fall of their base, a group of soldiers (Paddy Considine, Gemma Arterton) and a Doctor (Glenn Close) must get a very special girl (Sennia Nanua) across a deserted London to safety, as she may hold the key to saving humanity.

From first time Director Colm McCarthy and adapted for the screen by Mike Carey, who also wrote the book the film is based off, THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS is a zombie movie with a heart and soul and is less content with its bursts of frenetic action than it is with slow building tension and big philosophical ideas.

It’s best not to know too much before you go into it because one of its plentiful joys is its unpredictability and the complex moral questions it poses.

Also don’t expect something akin to 28 DAYS LATER or THE HUNGER GAMES, because whilst there’s obvious inspiration from both woven into the film’s fabric, The Girl with All the Gifts takes a more nuanced and thoughtful approach to the bigger themes than either of those two.

It’s thought-provoking instead of exhilarating and whilst it does have its action sequences, the finale takes a less bombastic, more eerily beautiful route to the finish, leaving you with plenty of food for thought.

This is in part down to the deft script by Carey who weaves in exposition across the course of the film instead of depositing it in one info dump. He allows the story and characters to necessitate the pace and, as the drama unfolds, the writing is allowed to breathe.

Thankfully the director works wonders with the material and alongside his DOP Simon Dennis, he takes his time in telling the story right. The first act doesn’t rush out of the gate quickly but rather sets up important characters and details for later, whilst drip feeding menace.

However, once things take a turn for the worse and the army base in compromised, the brief flashes of action are shot with efficiency and excitement, the handheld camera shakiness done sparingly.

Then, once the film moves into its third act, some of the imagery is startling realised, one moment in particular towards the end is a cinematic image for the ages and the lighting and colour is a veritable feast for the eyes.

When you pair this with the sublime score from Cristobal Tapia de Veer, whose eerie, haunting composition is his first full film score, then you have a mix that satisfies every sense.

Yet, in the end, it’s the performances that are the most noteworthy and newcomer Sennia Nanua as young heroine Melanie is incredible.

In a year where child actors such as Neel Sethi in THE JUNGLE BOOK and the kids in STRANGER THINGS have proven how good child actors can be, it’s inspiring that there are still surprises like Nanua to be found.

This is most definitely her film and though Close, Considine and Arterton bring their A-game, she draws all attention in every scene with a performance that’s equal parts endearing and creepy.

She’s got to be one of the most interesting characters of the year and you really connect with her sense of wonder throughout.

I really liked this film, I’m a sucker for zombie films anyway and though it twists much of what I know on its head, I loved its style and I really engaged with the morality of its story. It’s not quite perfect, there a couple of minor issues, such as a sometimes cliched plot development or two, yet I was won over by its sharp blend of darkness and eerie benevolence.

THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS is a homegrown British movie that must be supported to keep the local film industry growing. There are few films out there that take the chance to be different, let alone extraordinary and without the support of the public, we’re going to lose them.

This is one of those films and I implore everyone to give it a go.

Verdict

Please follow and like us: