Tilda Swinton stars as a mother trying to cope with the reality that her son's not quite right.
Imagine the guilt you’d feel if you’d raised a mass murderer. That’s the premise of We Need to Talk About Kevin, starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly and Ezra Miller.
The drama focuses on Eva Khatchadourian (Swinton) and her inability to calm her baby, connect with her son emotionally or to convince her husband Franklin (Reilly) that Kevin (played by Rock Duer, toddler, Jasper Newell, 6-8 years old, Ezra Miller, teenager) is diabolical.
Kevin is a disturbing film because the outcome is inevitable, but also because of the emotional destruction inflicted on a family that had no way of preventing the tragedy – plus, it raises a question about nature vs. nurture.
The performances are all solid and that’s important. In fact, it’s a necessity with such an emotional onslaught of a storyline. Swinton must balance frustration, fear and guilt while the three actors portraying Kevin are all required to teeter between sinister and charming.
The flick fluctuates through the past and the present. It’s a bit confusing, which helps to add to an uneasy feeling throughout.
We Have to Talk About Kevin is out for a qualifying Oscar run and it’s fairly certain the actors will get the consideration due.
Review by Mari Cartel