10×10 (2018) (Film Review)

10×10 (2018) Called “Outfall” in France. Ahhhh! At last, a real Thriller! Which isn’t horrific, but well and truly psychological. Admittedly, it’s violent. Only the brain-dead won’t notice. But that’s also what makes this film over the top.

There are plenty of moments that would be ultra-violent in real life, but which pass as if nothing had happened here. Getting punched in the face, a weight thrown at you, having a bottle smashed over your head… but getting up a few seconds later with just a few scratches… that’s what you might call cinema magic in all its glory!Apart from that, I really enjoyed this film. However, I’d had enough of kidnap films and didn’t really want to see any more. I nevertheless threw myself into this one.

And I wasn’t disappointed. So…Has Suzi Ewing made any other films? And who is she? Apparently she’s a British writer and director. This is her first feature film and was sold internationally by Altitude and distributed by Universal in the UK. 10×10 was selected for the Dinard Film Festival and was part of the British Council’s Great 8 programme in Cannes.

Suzi also co-wrote and co-directed the comedy and thriller Little Room with Dolly Wells and Heidi Greensmith. She is said to be “an excellent collaborator, a talented director and screenwriter. She is a real ‘magnet’; she shows an immediate understanding and mastery of any material and situation presented to her.” She began her career directing music videos and commercials working with artists such as Beverley Knight after completing her postgraduate degree in Goldsmiths Photography with an honours degree in Visual Arts and Music.

All of his short films, such as the critically acclaimed Going Postal, are supported by the British Council and screened at film festivals around the world.

As far as Luke Evans is concerned, he has appeared in a number of films that don’t interest me, such as ‘Fast & Furious 8’, but also ‘Blitz’ and ‘The Immortals’. I didn’t really like “The Girl on the Train”, even though I gave it two chances.

As for Kelly Reilly, I’m clearly not an Eden Lake fan, but I have a good memory of her in “L’auberge espagnole – The Spanish apartment”. A film I’d have to watch again to write a review (something I didn’t do at the time, alas…). I liked him in the film by and alongside Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot.

But basically, I’m not a fan of either Luke or Kelly, but I thought they were both fabulous in this film. I’ve rarely seen such an interesting relationship between kidnapper and kidnapped.

The pace is excellent, the running time decent, the acting very good. And even though the ending may seem disappointing, I still loved it. That’s it! A very pleasant surprise.

My Rating