We Need to Talk About Kevin (Review)

We Need to Talk About Kevin (Film Review) 2011

We Need to Talk About Kevin is a 2011 drama film directed by Lynne Ramsay, and starring Tilda Swinton, John. C Reilley, and Ezra Miller.

Eva (Tilda Swinton) lives in social seclusion following her son, Kevin's (Ezra Miller) monstrous crime. This crime against humanity is revealed near the end of the film. This puts emphasis on the aftermath of crime, rather than the crime itself, focusing solely on the psychological impact it had on Eva, and the events leading up to it. The narrative is mixed with a reverse-linear series of flashbacks leading up to the reveal, Kevin, from infancy to mid-teenage years.

The cinematography is extraordinary. The colours red and blue dictate the mood of every scene. Many colour cues are present all throughout the film, leading to very interesting analysis. The introduction scene is entirely red, a very interesting visual choice, but one that beautifully introduces the film. 

An outstanding performance from Tilda Swinton. Her character seems so genuine, and so genuinely psychologically disturbed. Likewise with Ezra Miller and Kevin. The child-actors for the flashback narrative are also great, very rare for serious films such as these. They all even look and act similar. I had no issues with John. C Reilly or any of the other cast.

The plot is skillfully constructed, along with being overall very intriguing and captivating. The film has a definite focus on psychology, exploring the reasons why Kevin committed such acts, along with the psychological damage of Eva. The question nature vs. nurture is explored throughout. Was Kevin born a psychopath, or socially excluded?

In conclusion, We Need to Talk About Kevin is a technically and visually superb film. Its exploration of psychology should intrigue those interested. The film is perfected by the performances of Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller. Overall, an excellent film.

I give We Need to Talk About Kevin 10/10.

Rated 15, runtime 112 minutes.