Heartless (2009) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

UK 2009
Director: Philip Ridley
Cast: Jim Sturgess, Clémence Poésy, Noel Clarke, Luke Treadaway, Justin Salinger, Ruth Sheen
Rating: -
Release Date: 21 May 2010
Running Time: 1 hour 48 minutes

The Movie Review

Heartless film still 1


HEARTLESS
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

I was actually rather hesitant to write review about this movie since I've been busy with movies currently in cinemas. However, since I was rather disappointed with both The Ward (2010) or Beastly (2011), I better post review of this British horror as the better answer. Interestingly, Heartless in some ways is a combination of those two aforementioned movies. That being said, it means minor spoilers inevitably follows.

Jamie Morgan (Jim Sturgess) is a nice young man who lives with a loving family. He works as a photographer sharing a studio with his older (and married) brother. But Jamie is facing difficulties in living his daily life because of a large birthmark in shape of a Heart on his face. He often picked on by kids in the neighbourhood and practically having no friend, let alone dating. Yes, Jamie is one lonely man who longs for a female companionship, someone that he can love and loves him back just the way he is. Maybe he longs for someone who would say "Cause you're amazing, just the way you areeeee" hehehe ;-) sorry Bruno Mars!

Anyhow, things are escalating to be worse for Jamie after he witnessed the alleged gang of hoodie hoodlums that is becomming the new Buzz of Londoners. Jamie notices they have extremely creepy faces and eventually kill the only friend and neighbor Jamie has, A.J. (Noel Clarke of Centurion (2010). Utterly depressed Jamie meets Papa B (Joseph Mawle), a devil in disguise that promises him to erase the heart-shaped birthmark from Jamie's face in return for Jamie to create a "certain" chaos.

Because of wanting so bad to hook up with an aspiring photo model from his photographic studio, Tia (Clémence Poésy), Jamie agrees with the deal. However, Jamie is going to face something that's beyond resentment of his own birthmark....

Heartless is definitely different with The Ward or Beastly in terms of budget. But even though it's much more cheaper, it doesn't mean it's trashy. One thing for sure, the premise and the storyline of Heartless are much more solid. Most people can relate better to the characters thanks to the natural acting of the cast and the dialogue. It's just too bad that Heartless does deliver several significant flaws.

It's a shame the filmmakers still opt to insert several unbelievably cheesy boo scares that makes the horror of The Ward or Indonesian B-movie Pelet Kuntilanak (2011) seems like a proud achievement. It's bad enough to put boo scares in this serious psychological thriller but they could actually make it worse by putting a screaming voice with each boo scare. So tacky. And furthermore there is something very dark about this film and it does also deliver some uncalled for goriness (which is unnecessary and disgusting at some points, like when a man's head is eaten). Of course shock value is needed but not to the point that a movie can generate surfeit of nausea. The same thing happens to The Ward although it's worse than Heartless.

But even with those flaws, this British horror could be more memorable than average horror films. The combination of the engaging story, emotional situation, and artistic cinematography, and Jamie character are what actually make the film more effective in conveying the message about dealing with our own defects. The substance is deep and through Jim Sturgess solid portrayal of a man in troubled mind, Heartless does deliver an entertainment that leaves the viewers something to discuss about after the end credits role. Recommended if you're fed up with brainless horror or bland drama.