Not sure how this movie received 9 out of 9 rave reviews prior to this, but its rating has been way overinflated. This movie feels like not much happens, and it takes a long time for that nothing to happen. In theory there are some events which would normally drive a plot forward, but nobody really even notices them. For a moment, we are tricked into believing that we could care about the characters, but they range from a blank cipher to a charismatic psychopath. Nothing much is explained, despite some attempts to give the characters a back story. This is a _very_ slow burn, with essentially no payoff. Please spare yourself the time.
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michaeljbower-505268 September 2019
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carlospresents16 February 2020Superb music, excellent photography. Unlikeable characters, drags on way too long and goes nowhere. The script is poor. The American guy is a good actor, as is the main guy. Everyone else is terrible. Try it!
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mrscarolineturner16 October 2015This is a great film. It's such a pleasure to see a film where all the elements come together as perfectly as they do in Mile End. Great casting – I enjoyed the contrast between the leads: one of them so self-contained and desperate to break out of the limiting and mundane nine to five world he finds himself trapped within; and the other so open and genial on the surface but ultimately looking for a 'friend' to drag into his murky, dark and dangerous world. Arnold particularly gave a convincing and expertly controlled performance as the troubled and damaged John. The clever writing created a totally plausible relationship between the two of them and the tension built steadily throughout keeping me gripped to the end. I loved the photography and those big London vistas - good to see the East end for a change. And I only jumped out of my seat once! Would definitely recommend this.
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NickWineTime18 January 2020Chanced upon this and loved it! Beautiful,beguiling and unusual.A slow-burning psychological thriller with imagination that draws you in and ramps up the tension in the second half. All the actors give fine performances. Not heard of this Director before, but look forward to his next offering.
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getmiller-196843 November 2015It's a while since I've been genuinely startled during a film - but this gripping thriller did just that. The two lead characters are beautifully drawn, and I found the development of their relationship engrossing. The complex and sinister story line keeps you engaged and guessing well beyond the end of the film. We were still discussing various plot conundrums long after we arrived home.
Beautifully shot in East London, this independent film was made on a shoe-string budget, but looks like a million dollars! I'm not surprised it was nominated for Best Feature at the Raindance Film Festival. Highly recommended. -
vivienwheeler9 November 2015An unsettling thriller with some genuinely scary moments that I didn't see coming and had me jumping out of my seat! The acting was excellent, the hero a totally believable ordinary bloke of the sort you might work with or live next to, placed in a sinister situation which again, you could imagine yourself being drawn into unwittingly. The film develops an atmosphere of creepiness, claustrophobia and menacing psychological dysfunction which is enhanced by contrasting expansive views of the London's riverside, where which much of the action is set. Mark Arnold as John is really scary and threatening- he'd make a very good Bond villain! There are some surprising twists and a really satisfying ending.
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I loved this film - a gripping story, beautifully told.
There are some stunning scenes of London and some incredibly poignant moments amid the thrill and horror. It's so lovely to see east London shot with such love and care.
I love the way it leaves some shades of ambiguity and questions that stay with you long after you've watched it.
The acting is great, particularly the sinister but somehow still sympathetic runner.
Love it, can't wait to watch it again.
Highly recommended! -
lisajohnston-4444118 January 2022It is nice to sit down and watch a film that incorporates the elements of superb writing, a haunting soundtrack and brilliant acting to keep you riveted to the screen. There are no gimmicks or high-end effects but instead the seamless coming together of scenes that build into a slow-burn thriller beautifully set against the backdrop of East London. Both main actors do a wonderful job portraying their characters and John is downright creepy leaving viewers thinking about him - and the ambiguous ending - long after the film credits have rolled. I will definitely watch for more releases from writer and director Graham Higgins!
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winifred_g9 February 2020I appreciate thrillers that build slowly, let you get fully sucked into the characters and what's going on in their life and then build to a dramatic conclusion. This film had all of that and certainly paid off in the end! Loved it!
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ksamson-5818323 October 2019Mile End was recommended to me by a friend who saw it at Raindance a few years ago. It's a psychological thriller, with an unnerving tension from the outset that builds throughout, and, even days after watching the film, I'm left feeling unsettled and queasy, still trying to figure out exactly what happened.
The characters, especially the two male leads, are very well drawn and believable, and the acting is superb, especially from Mark Arnold who could have been born to play John.
John's slow but relentless influence over Paul is subtly illustrated, in a series of encounters, and Paul's seesawing view of his new friend is, for a man losing his grip on reality, entirely understandable and authentic. Was John entirely a figment of Paul's imagination? It's not made entirely clear, but the fact that all the loose ends are not tied up in a nice, tidy fashion adds to the film's enigmatic charm.
The cinematography is stunning throughout; the Thames, away from the usual landmarks, and still bearing the scars of long-abandoned industries, provides the perfect backdrop for the action, often shot in the half-light, an opaque layer that adds to the film's complexity. -
harryroberttrimble4 July 2016Mile End is a atmospheric film. Shot with craft. Edited in a way you don't notice the editing; good.
The characters feel very real and familiar. I cared what happens to the them, which is typical of good storytelling.
I recognised the ego of Paul, the main character, in myself. This made we feel embarrassed and uncomfortable as I saw how Paul treats others around him. His fragile confidence and reluctance to accept help are very human qualities.
I couldn't help but feel involved in the story; partly due to local setting. The other the frustrations of Kate.
After the film finished, I was left with many questions and points of discussion. Very much a good thing. -
gcolman27 April 2017I saw this film in a festival recently and thought it was a great little British thriller. I can understand why it's attracted so much attention as visually it looks fantastic. the performances were great, especially the two male leads. the world was believable and I was totally drawn into this original and arresting story. it worked well as a tense thriller and there were at several occasions when I literally jumped in my seat. and there's also a few laughs as well. A great film and worth checking out.
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sabinecrossen10 February 2017I saw this film at the I Filmmaker International Film Festival in Marbella which was a really lovely festival and the screening conditions were great, this allowed us to see the films with good sound and get a real idea of their quality. And talking about quality I was surprised at the quality of Mile End knowing how little the budget had been (speaking to director G Higgins). As you watch it it gets better and better and pulls you in. The actors are good and the chemistry between them works well, suspense builds too. I am looking forward to seeing this directors new works and also what will happen when he gets a production company and money behind him. Would recommend this film!
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Made redundant Paul {Andrew Humes) life is a mess. While out running he meets John (Mark Arnold). They strike up an unlikely friendship and things seem to take a turn for the good. However, John's behavior becomes erratic even obsessive taking Paul on a more sinister downward journey with unexpected results. Higgins brings us a tension that simmers just beneath the surface holds our attention. A visually thought provoking film with sold performances from the cast makes this movie worth your time. Winner Best Feature NYC Independent Film festival 2016, Winner Best film Melbourne Indie Film Festival 2016, Best UK Feature Raindance Film Festival Nominee 2015. Look forward to more from this writer/director.
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info-82024-2991215 October 2023After watching the film's trailer, I became deeply intrigued. Without giving away any spoilers, I found the movie to be highly captivating, and just when I thought I had the storyline figured out, it managed to surprise me yet again.
The deliberate, unhurried tempo of this film had me on the edge of my seat, skilfully weaving in potential subtle clues about the unfolding mystery, 'lipstick' as an example!
It's definitely a must-watch!
Everyone has a favourite character, and I, in particular, found 'John,' brought to life by Mark Arnold, to be exceptionally skilled in crafting a character you're supposed to despise but can't help secretly liking.
#ShutterIslandVibes.