Fresh Kills (2023) User Reviews

Fresh Kills: A fresh and perspective shifting film.

[kimby_kb · 7/10 · 24 June 2023]

Fresh Kills reaches through the established perimeters of a well-known genre to extract a sympathetic, gut-wrenching, and at times abrasive look into the lives of the typically obscured wives and daughters of the mob. Well written, well cast, with convincing production design and on location shooting, Fresh Kills fairly exhales the atmosphere of 1980/1990s Staten Island, NY. First-time writer/director Jennifer Esposito handles the reins with aptitude and steers the narrative in a way that invites the viewer to not only empathize with the women on screen but to relate to the challenges they face in bearing the burden of their predetermined roles. Authentic performances by the cast flesh out the on-screen characters and leave indelible impressions of their existence that won't fade when the credits roll. Fresh Kills is a notable film. Not perfect- but good. Very, very good.

Great first effort, I enjoyed a lot about it

[vinceb-71112 · 7/10 · 16 August 2023]

I was lucky enough to catch the premier at the cinequest film festival. I love the idea of a mob movie told from perspective of the women it affects. The anxiety, the danger, the violence. As with the men the idea of not being able to walk away and protecting the family that exposes you to so much trauma and heartache is a powerful study. Visually it's beautiful and captures the era. Great camera work, effects, and costume design. I've never seen the lead in anything else but she makes the movie.... The lack of dialogue she tells a story with her eyes. The sister played by Pamela aldon daughter was dope she was like the female version of Pac in Juice. I guess my only critiques would be the lack of music in the first act, the rushed pacing together to the climax, and how quickly the climactic event got us over tue finish line. I wish In The best part of the film there was more remorse from shown from the father. All in all Jennifer Espisoto did a great job. It was a great first film that I highly recommend.

An Incredible Film

[kennethholmes87 · 10/10 · 20 June 2023]

"Fresh Kills" is an exciting, thought-provoking, and ultimately moving film about two very different sisters - Connie (played by Odessa A'zion) and Rose (played by Emily Bader), and how they deal with growing up in a crime family. Written and directed by Jennifer Esposito in her directorial debut, it's an emotional roller coaster...gritty and violent one moment, heart-breaking the next.

Told from Rose's perspective as she tries her best to take control of her life despite the circumstances, and as she attempts to write her own story.

The acting is phenomenal from all involved, and the script is perfectly paced and resists the urge to go too far, staying firmly rooted in realism.

Rose and Connie are both particularly intriguing characters, and the performances are unforgettable.

I won't give away too much more, but if you're looking for a film about family and redemption, I highly recommend. It's a fresh take on a familiar topic. My biggest takeaway is that the greatest power we have sometimes is the power to change.

Can Rose change course and get behind the wheel of the plane?

This is what Independent Film is all about!

[thunderboy-30667 · 10/10 · 16 October 2023]

FRESH KILLS is the BEST film I have seen on the festival circuit in the last 15 years. A gritty, gut wrenching story about two sisters that are stuck in a life they didn't choose... Their father's mob world. BUT, It's NOT a Mob film.

The depth of character these two young actors (Emily Bader & Odessa A'zion) share in their performances, explodes from the script on to the screen, via the expert direction of Esposito. Like all classic Independent Films, FRESH KILLS is intimate and raw, while bursting at the seams with story, content and style. It should be on everyone's must see list for 2024 and beyond!

Interesting little indie attempt

[tez_rits · 6/10 · 25 June 2023]

An interesting indie that is trying to offer a unique perspective into the lifes of the women of organized crime. Even tho the movie starts promising and has some good and powerful scenes in it. It also gets swallowed by stereotypes and outdated directions. Like copying the infamous scene of a little girl that's being.pampered up by his mother and allowing the main female protagonists to have an enlightening through it and realization that she's being trapped like James Cameron allowed Rose to have on the titanic. Our packing the classic car scene that every female driven indie must have in its attempt to try and become the new Thelma and Luise. It also becomes emotionally manipulative at times trying to direct the viewers feelings towards a certain narrative instead of allowing the art in it to be fluid.

Odessa Azion and the other girl definitely carried the movie but at the same time let all the other performances next to them fall flat. I couldn't understand if the Mum was just bad at acting or her role was supposed to be jumping in and out of mental illness.