The Kitchen has a lot on its mind and plenty to say and whilst it never reaches the highs this genre has in the past, it still remains a worthy addition. Strong character work and a hard hitting exploration of themes that unfortunately remain relevant make up for an ending that isn't entirely satisfying.
Kane Robinson is really good at portraying his character's inner turmoil. For every moment of warmth where he opens up there's also plenty of times where he'll do something selfish, even if he regrets it later. Jedaiah Bannerman is equally torn with moments of levity and anger as he struggles to find his place.
Ian Wright is a real highlight. Even if he's only in a handful of scenes his presence is always felt as the heart of the film, designed to feel bleaker in his absence. When the film goes to its darkest places he's there to rediscover the hope and emphasise the humanity that's so potent in this community.
Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares craft an interesting world. It's still recognisably present day London with some sci-fi flourishes added in the distance so it always feels out of reach. Outside of the world building their direction feels claustrophobic in its narrow sets and has a real intimacy for the emotional beats, prioritising the performances as much as possible.
Kane Robinson is really good at portraying his character's inner turmoil. For every moment of warmth where he opens up there's also plenty of times where he'll do something selfish, even if he regrets it later. Jedaiah Bannerman is equally torn with moments of levity and anger as he struggles to find his place.
Ian Wright is a real highlight. Even if he's only in a handful of scenes his presence is always felt as the heart of the film, designed to feel bleaker in his absence. When the film goes to its darkest places he's there to rediscover the hope and emphasise the humanity that's so potent in this community.
Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares craft an interesting world. It's still recognisably present day London with some sci-fi flourishes added in the distance so it always feels out of reach. Outside of the world building their direction feels claustrophobic in its narrow sets and has a real intimacy for the emotional beats, prioritising the performances as much as possible.