Dark River

Dark fare indeed, and you won't shake it off easily.

This is a kitchen-sink drag.

A moving, North of England-set portrait of marginalized working-class cultures and the resilience of damaged children.

The rugged emotional territory (and the Yorkshire accents) prove heavy-going in an uncompromising film that elicits a lot more admiration than enjoyment.

There's scarcely room here for improvement at the level of craft or performance; in particular, it's gratifying to see leading lady Ruth Wilson headlining a big-screen vehicle worthy of her flinty brilliance.

A quiet, intense and very visual farm drama built on the expressive eyes of Ruth Wilson and the subtle body language of Mark Stanley.

Barnard has made a rare film that's harsh without being off-putting. Watching these people struggle against themselves and each other is compelling.

If it feels overly familiar in the light of its aforementioned contemporaries, it's still a beautifully made and acted film and Barnard manages to pull off the tricksy resolution without it feeling contrived.

Clio Barnard's film is full of weather and brooding atmosphere, and Wilson is superb as the nervy but resourceful Alice. But Dark River loses its way somewhat in a jarringly melodramatic climax.

[Clio] Barnard is a director who deserves her place on your watch list; it would be cinema's loss if she didn't reunite with her Dark River stars in the future - they bring out the best in each other during the worst of times.

An impressive murder ballad.

On the whole, despite not being able to tick all the boxes, Dark River still manages to be intriguing, deeply engaging and fantastically well acted.