I DECLARE WAR
Cert 15
94 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language
"Who wants to play at war, no girls allowed!", went up the cry from the playground in 1960s Coventry.
I remember gathering our forces and playing games such as best man's fall in which one combatant pretended to use a weapon, such as a machine gun or hand grenade, and the opponent fell as dramatically as they could.
We may have been the post-war generation but our pastimes were tepid compared with those in Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson's film.
This focuses on a highly organised war game between two opposing teams made up of children from a Canadian neighbourhood.
But, while the movie begins as a quaint story of childhood, there is a progressing fear that we are witnessing a descent into a Lord Of the Flies scenario.
I can't recall another movie when every member of the cast was a teenager but that is the case here. And, what's more, they are all totally convincing in their roles.
Michael Friend stands out as the unhinged loser who takes his chance to grab power for the first time in his previously wretched life.
Meanwhile, his arch enemy is a brainy but ruthless strategist (Gage Munroe) who gives the creeping impression that he isn't the good guy he first seems to be.
Apparently, I Declare War was written by Lapeyre over ten years and was based on many of his childhood experiences.
On this evidence, he must have had a very edgy time as a youngster.
I Declare War was only in cinemas for a very short run and is now available to download and on DVD. It is worth watching because, as well as rekindling memories, it will gnaw at your brain for days.
"Who wants to play at war, no girls allowed!", went up the cry from the playground in 1960s Coventry.
I remember gathering our forces and playing games such as best man's fall in which one combatant pretended to use a weapon, such as a machine gun or hand grenade, and the opponent fell as dramatically as they could.
We may have been the post-war generation but our pastimes were tepid compared with those in Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson's film.
This focuses on a highly organised war game between two opposing teams made up of children from a Canadian neighbourhood.
But, while the movie begins as a quaint story of childhood, there is a progressing fear that we are witnessing a descent into a Lord Of the Flies scenario.
I can't recall another movie when every member of the cast was a teenager but that is the case here. And, what's more, they are all totally convincing in their roles.
Michael Friend stands out as the unhinged loser who takes his chance to grab power for the first time in his previously wretched life.
Meanwhile, his arch enemy is a brainy but ruthless strategist (Gage Munroe) who gives the creeping impression that he isn't the good guy he first seems to be.
Apparently, I Declare War was written by Lapeyre over ten years and was based on many of his childhood experiences.
On this evidence, he must have had a very edgy time as a youngster.
I Declare War was only in cinemas for a very short run and is now available to download and on DVD. It is worth watching because, as well as rekindling memories, it will gnaw at your brain for days.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Overall rating: 7.5/10