APOSTLE
Cutthroat Island
The latest Netflix Original is one of those films that captivates through their sheer force – a rough-hewn, unignorable blunt object of a movie.
Set in 1905, it follows Thomas Richardson (Legion’s Dan Stevens, all furious glares) to a Welsh island in search of his kidnapped sister. It’s home to a religious community led by prophet Malcolm Howe (Michael Sheen, making good use of the talent for booming oratory he’s displayed as a political activist), who worship – and sacrifice blood to – a mysterious goddess in return for bountiful crops.
So far, so Wicker Man, but in the later stages the spirit of Leatherface crashes in too. As the film expands on its themes, exploring man’s exploitation of nature and the repressive effects of patriarchal authority (with strong echoes of Islamic State), it becomes a wince-inducingly visceral experience.
Blessed with gritty, earthy cinematography and an obtrusive yet effective score – all waspswarm strings and pan-banging percussion – it’s a film of strong flavours, thick with textures: dark wood, scar tissue, gnarled roots. Watching it’s like feeling the heft of an antique farming implement in your palm, or rough bark rubbing against your skin. Ian Berriman
Welsh actress Sharon Morgan (who plays the nameless goddess) also portrayed gwen Cooper’s mother in Torchwood.