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Elfie Hopkins review

Uninspiring horror that swaps clues for carnage

Reviews
By James Mottram published 9 April 2012

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Moving away from bad-girl roles, Jaime Winstone plays the eponymous slacker-turned-detective.

The Twin Peaks mood writer/director that Ryan Andrews musters in his sleepy village setting, not to mention the striking costume and production design, has real promise.

But as our heroine and weed-smoking pal Dylan (Aneurin Barnard) uncover the secret of their mysterious new neighbours, the film blows it, lurching from young Miss Marple to uninspiring horror that swaps clues for carnage.

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Gratuitous gore, contrived plotting… and Ray Winstone’s butcher cameo deserves to be filleted.

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James Mottram
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Freelance writer

James Mottram is a freelance film journalist, author of books that dive deep into films like Die Hard and Tenet, and a regular guest on the Total Film podcast. You'll find his writings on GamesRadar+ and Total Film, and in newspapers and magazines from across the world like The Times, The Independent, The i, Metro, The National, Marie Claire, and MindFood.

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