My Feral Heart (2016) User Reviews (9)

Moving, poignant, with an incredible lead performance

[Smallclone100 · 7/10 · 6 June 2018]

Very moving, poignant film about a man with Down's syndrome trying to regather his life after a tragedy. I haven't seen many films where the lead actor is disabled, and Steven Brandon does an absolutely extraordinary job here as 'Luke'. He absolutely nails the part.

Think of the work of Lynne Ramsay, Andrea Arnold, Clio Barnard and you may get the picture. It does a really fine job of tapping into the psyche of Luke and takes the viewer to some interesting metaphorical places. It also touches on the healing process, grief, guilt etc. There's also a very credible performance by Shana Swash as 'Eve', who takes care of Luke and provides a semi 'love interest' role. Susanne Salavati's cinematography is quite lovely at times too and there are some nice shots of the English countryside to set the mood.

The film is a tad rough around the edges, especially with a 'wtf' moment in the final act, but a fine effort for a first time director (Jane Gull). Really looking forward to see what she does next.

A heartfelt and sensitive portrait of our human selves

[mmcguchan-1 · 8/10 · 28 January 2017]

If the score was for intention and sincerity, this would entirely be a 10. This is a super-low-budget British drama that shines a light on characters not often represented on the big screen. The filmmakers have proceeded with absolute integrity of purpose, the film is not at all preachy, it's "just" a story and doesn't try to give answers or deliver a sermon. We are invited to spend time with characters healing after traumas. The plot has a mystery at its core that is left narratively unresolved but there is definitely an emotional climax to the story that leaves you wanting more. Well done to Ms Gull, Mr Paveling and their talented collaborators for showing the world that UK indie film is fighting fit and ready to take on the world!

8/10 and it COULD so easily have had a 10 - which I have never awarded

[derek-eynon · 8/10 · 16 April 2018]

It just needed one tiny thing more.: an ending.

In the cases of movies like No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood I would argue that IF YOU CAN'T THINK OF AN ENDING DONT BOTHER MAKING THE MOVIE.

I would not, however argue this in the case of My Feral Heart, because the world is a better place for it.

It is moving but never sentimental and highlights the good that there is in people, when they're not being bad.

I don't know what to say about lead Steven Brandon, 'outstanding' seems inadequate for such a talent. Everyone is excellent in it, and if this movie gets half the attention it deserves all concerned should have long and stellar careers.

My Feral Heart

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 19 November 2022]

Steven Brandon is great here as "Luke" a young man with Down's Syndrome who looks after his ailing mother at their home. When she dies, he is deemed incapable of fending for himself and goes to live in a residential care home. Initially unsettled, he starts to bond with one of the staff "Eve" (Shana Swash) and with "Pete" (Will Rastall) - a young man doing community service work nearby. "Luke" has a fondness for nature and likes to go for walks. On one such occassion, he encounters a seriously malnourished young girl trapped in a snare. He frees her and carries her to a nearby barn where he tries to nurse her back to health. It also transpires that his pal "Pete" has some demons and the story now proceeds to try to knit these themes together. It's Jane Gull's directional debut, and with Brandon she has a young actor who offers us an engaging perspective of his life and his search for joy and fulfilment. The story itself, though, is an implausible amalgam of scenarios (especially his foundling) and for the most part I felt like we were just plonked into the middle of something - with not enough sense of before, and certainly no sense of conclusion. That said, there is chemistry between the two men, here - Rastall (looks a bit like James Franco?) has a charm about him too - and Gull doesn't allow sentiment to intrude overly even if it does tug at the heart strings now and again. Whilst is touches on social care issues, and on some environmental ones too, this is essentially a snippet from the life of a young man trying to make his own way in a world that would treat him with kid gloves - whether he likes it or not.

Engrossing film

[kimlarke · 9/10 · 18 March 2021]

My initial reaction at the start of this film was how social services could justify moving a high functioning adult with learning difficulties, who has very good independent living skills and is also a carer, into such a restricted care home. He is an adult man who arguably has capacity, yet his mother who he cares for can dictate his future overriding his options which has the effect of deskilling him (albeit out of concern) but it does open up his world and turns out to be a positive move introducing him to new experiences, not all positive but less confined as his previous life. A thought provoking film with a great lead performance by Steven Brandon who is a worthy award winner.

Loved it

[mssmdepas · 9/10 · 3 June 2020]

I absolutely love this movie! It made me cry frequently. I love the fact that it is a 'normal' life story about a young man with Downs. I wish we saw more actors with disabilities in films. I kind of hoped the ending might mean for a sequel? I wanted to know more!

Had me 'Foxed' to begin witth

[arthurcrown · 9/10 · 24 November 2023]

I first saw this on BBC TV and er.. it was puzzling in so many ways.

Troubling in the subject matter - Fox hunting with hounds and dogs.. whereas if I want to cull (kill) a fox, I'd shoot it with a 0.308 rifle or a 12 gauge at close range with SG cartridges. Certainly NOT by chasing it around on horse back, digging it out of its burrow with long-legged terriers and finally dispatching it with a 0.22 blank in a 'captive bolt pistol'.

In this film there are so many difficult 'Hang on ?" moments.

As things develop, Steve Brandon's portrayal challenges the audience to say "Hang on.. OK Luke's Mum has died - but he's not a person unable to look after himself - we've already seen that ?

But in his new and difficult environment.. Luke gets help and gives help.

And er.. Hang on.. is that Pixie Lot's character that makes the first vixen call that Luke hears and responds to ? It's really a reenacted of the parable of The Good Samaritan ?

She's ensnared when he finds her - and treats her with respect and kindness. When a vixen makes that sound in late autumn - she's inviting gentlemen callers to service her urgent physical needs.

But Luke is treating the girl as the frightened, injured, ensnared animal he has chanced upon. And he somehow knows that dicretion is appropriate. Somehow Luke realizes that (like his elderly mother) she needs kindness, understanding and careful handling - which he supplies instinctively.

The rest is just the madness and cruelty of fox hunting and the people who do it.

A low budget British Peanut Butter Falcon. But doesn't say as much. But excellent performances and moving nonetheless.

[mickman91-1 · 5/10 · 25 February 2022]

Similar concept to Peanut Butter Falcon which is a 10/10 film. This low budget British version is not as good and more maudlin in tone. But it is moving nonetheless. Excellent performances. Unusual symbolism which probably turned some people off but I think it works. I think the message could have been explored a bit better and been a bit deeper. It doesn't really say a great deal it just keeps reiterating the one main theme, which is, not to prejudge somebody based on their disability as needing to be taken care of when they themselves may be very able of taking care of themselves and even have great abilities at also taking care of others.

What Ending

[svader · 4/10 · 13 February 2022]

Can I have back my 75 minutes please.

I waited and waited for something to happen and then it was over.

What is the point of Pixie Le Knots character.

What was the ending supposed to be?