"We Need to Talk About Kevin"

Tilda Swinton stars as Eva in We Need to Talk About Kevin. Eva is the burdened mother of a budding psychopath who struggles with her own social problems and is now cursed with a child who is set on making her life a misery. The film follows Eva's relationship with Kevin, from conception to his development into a young man.

We Need to Talk About Kevin
Starring: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller
Directed by: Lynne Ramsay
My Opinion: A little one dimensional, but decently enjoyable

The film is shot with subdued tones which contrast sharply against the splashes of red paint that Eva finds on her house and car in the film's graphic opening. A surrealistic tone dominates, outcasting any external reality in the film and limiting the audience's perception to that of Eva. Kevin has all the ingredients for a psychological thriller, complete with so-good-that-it's-creepy child acting. Empty, demonic eyes in a toddler refusing to please his mother by uttering the word "mommy" and painfully manipulative dialogue nearly drive us to identify with Eva, even when her frustration slowly lends itself to habits of child abuse. This element makes the film stand out among others of its kind, as it tests the boundaries and terms of a mother's love.

However, We Need to Talk About Kevin lacks the depth and the script that could have pushed the film beyond just creepy. The non-linear story introduces Kevin's mysterious deed that eventually convinces everyone else of what Eva has always known. The pending question "what did Kevin do?" is the driving force for the audience. The entire film leads to this revelation, and frankly, it's pretty disappointing. For starters, it doesn't make any physical sense and whoever decided that this would be Kevin's final act of defiance against his mother sucks at building story. Compensation for the poor twist is rather absent, especially considering the graphic bloodbath that begins the film.

Though promising with its style and dazzling cinematography, We Need to Talk About Kevin is one dimensional and relies far too much on its insufficient story. Not surprisingly, Tilda Swinton's performance stands out as the most impressive element. As a psychological thriller, the film is better than some, but allows for only minimal insight into the struggles of the psycho's mother.