The War Zone

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tim Roth directs. Seamus McGarvey behind the camera. Simon Boswell scores. Trevor Waite cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 127 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
• 2International production across 2 countries: Italy, United Kingdom.
• 3Directed by Tim Roth, shot by Seamus McGarvey. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Simon Boswell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor Trevor Waite shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6Freddie Cunliffe and Lara Belmont and Ray Winstone carry the top of the cast.
• 7Marketing tagline: "When the worst of men hides in a family with no history.".
• 8IMDB entry: tt0141974 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Seamus McGarvey

Original score

Simon Boswell

Editing

Trevor Waite

Production design

Michael Carlin

Costume design

Mary-Jane Reyner

Makeup / hair

Ivana Primorac

Runtime

98 min · 1h 38m

Status

Released

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

R

IMDB

The War Zone (1999) ↗

Rotten Tomatoes

84% 🍅 Fresh

Metacritic

68/100

IMDB rating

7.2/10 · 11,447 votes

MPAA

R

US box office

$254,441

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  The War Zone (1999) | Trailer | Film4

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• John Chard2016-02-28
  ★ 9/10

  Darkness in Devon. Tim Roth dons the directing hat for the first time and brings to the screen a shattering tale of incest and child abuse. Alexander Stuart adapts from his own novel and it stars Ray Winstone, Lara Belmont, Freddie Cunliffe and Tilda Swinton. Story is about a family who have moved from London to the Devonshire coast. The son, Tom, is unhappy and feels alienated in the new surroundings, but when he discovers a dark family secret, things become much much worse. It's an uncomfortable viewing experience at times, making it a film you don't readily recommend, but Roth's approach to the story gives out a powerful message without exploitation or sermonising. The script is deliberately taut and sparse, while the marrying up of the crashing waves and jagged rocks of the locale with the emotional turmoil is a deft piece of directing. The use of newcomers Belmont and Cunliffe add a potent sense of realism to the whole thing, aided no end by an intelligent screenplay that doesn't go for conventionality. Quite simply it's an unforgettable film, a claustrophobic emotional battering ram of celluloid. 9/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• PO

  Portobello Pictures

  GB

• 

  Fandango

  IT

• MI

  Mikado Film

  IT

• 

  Film4 Productions

  GB

Key crew

• ProducerSarah Radclyffe
• Associate ProducerSteve Butterworth
• ProducerDixie Linder
• EditorTrevor Waite
• Executive ProducerEric Abraham
• NovelAlexander Stuart
• CastingJina Jay
• CastingSharon Howard-Field
• Production DesignMichael Carlin
• Costume DesignMary-Jane Reyner
• HairstylistIvana Primorac
• Script SupervisorSusanna Lenton
• Unit PublicistPatricia Dobson
• Set DecorationLiz Griffiths
• Art DirectionKaren Wakefield
• GafferLee Walters

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• family secrets
• incest
• devon

Release history · US

When it landed

• Premiere1999-01-29· Sundance Film Festival
• Premiere1999-09-17· Boston Film Festival
• Theatrical (limited)1999-12-10R

Also known as

International titles

• 家园禁地CN