Release date: November 13, 2020
Running time: 104 minutes
Starring: Vicky Knight, Katherine Kelly, Eliza Brady-Girard
Director: Sacha Polak
Writers: Sacha Polak, Susie Farrell
A young British mother struggles to reclaim her life after a brutal acid attack leaves her severely scarred. Jade (Knight) is still recovering from a terrible acid attack that has scarred her face, body, and her spirit. She attempts to rebuild her life, but the constant ridicule and pain are tough for her to take, and life begins to slowly bear down on her. How she deals with this unique and painful situation forms the main crux of the film, and gives dirty god much of its inherent heart.
This movie is the acting debut of Vicky Knight and what a debut it is. Knight gives a powerful, difficult performance. A burn victim herself from her childhood, Knight added some additional scars for this role but approaches it with an understanding and care that you expect from this situation. Her performance and gait are realistic, because they are. She walks with a little bit of a hitch that looks realistic. Her performance touches on some very real emotions because they are likely hers. And this film is the perfect film to showcase her talents. The story is heartfelt, chronicling a recently injured mother coping with the cruel, disfiguring injury and her new reality. Jade goes through physical and emotional turmoil as she tries to cope with what happened and rebuild her life. And this emotional story is accompanied by some great music that helps to set the mood and increase the drama.
However, the film itself, while emotional and well put together, is very slow and sometimes doesn't seem to have a purpose. The film at times feels like a chronicle of her life, rather than a journey of what is happening. Bits and pieces of what occurred are revealed throughout the film, but you really don't get a full picture until the end of the movie. But before that, you are left with a story that feels slow if realistic. And I also found it difficult to tell what was going on at times, partially because I did not have the backstory. Not all movies need to be emotional roller coasters, but this one felt like it could have done with a bit more exposition and adventure.
Dirty God is an emotional journey of abuse and reconstruction, with a powerful acting debut by Vicky Knight.
Rent it.
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