Trailer Tuesday: We Need to Talk About Kevin

Although it's only been screening in limited release on the art film and film festival circuit, We Need to Talk About Kevin has become one of the most persistently discussed films since it debuted at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Now, finally, almost 8 months later, this psychological thriller is screening in South Africa.


Based on the award-winning 2003 novel of the same name, We Need to Talk About Kevin centres on successful travel writer Eva (Tilda Swinton), whose ambivalent attitude to motherhood is apparently justified when she gives birth to disinterested, difficult and highly defiant Kevin (played as a teen by Ezra Miller). Eva is convinced that her son is a sociopath destined to commit some horrible act, but her husband Franklin (John C. Reilly), hellbent on having a happy family, dismisses her views as stemming from insecurity.

We Need to Talk About Kevin has racked up a very healthy aggregated review score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes. And although not dominating the awards season, this dark, suspenseful drama has certainly received its share of accolades from high profile critical bodies - with Swinton's "mesmerizing performance" and director Lynne Ramsay singled out especially.

I am personally very excited for We Need to Talk About Kevin. Forget hulking deformed brutes, vengeful ghosts and sharp clawed monsters. Typically the most fascinating and chilling horror of all can be found in low-key, highly credible domestic situations.

We Need to Talk About Kevin opens in South Africa this Friday, 27 January. It is only screening in limited release, at Ster Kinekor's Cinema Nouveau.