It’s been nearly a decade since director Lynne Ramsay delivered her last beautiful and terrifying film, Morvern Callar, to the world. Now, she’s back with We Need to Talk About Kevin, which is based upon the book by Lionel Shriver and stars Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly as the parents of the titular Kevin, who is played by Ezra Miller. The movie has received rave reviews already (especially for the performance of Swinton who probably has a lock on all of the best actress awards) and was nominated at Cannes for the Palme d’Or (which, obviously, it lost to The Tree of Life).
If you’re not already familiar with the film’s subject matter already, Tilda herself has said quite a few words about how violent and bloody that the reality of motherhood can be, and that notion becomes literal in this film when one happens to be the mother of a psychopathic teenage mass murderer. Tilda reportedly throws herself into the role of a less than perfect mother, and certainly, watching this movie will be a disturbing and intense experience but likely well worth the ride.
Now, the international trailer for We Need to Talk About Kevin has arrived; this trailer starts out with giggles and a happy love story but soon moves quickly into thriller territory and gives quite an indication of how horrifying a child that Kevin turns out to be from a very early age. Besides Swinton’s chilling performance, Ezra Miller’s terrifying gazes will soon haunt your dreams:
I have a feeling that this will be a movie that I’ll only be able to watch once, but it’s still going to be essential viewing for any Swinton fan. We Need to Talk About Kevin opens on December 2.
Movie stills courtesy of Digital Spy
SWINTON!
Can. Not. Wait.
I am SO psyched for this movie. I’ve heard about the book for a few months, but I’m putting off reading it till after the movie. Normally, it’s the other way around, but I really, REALLY love Tilda. I want her to have a whole collection of Oscars 🙂
I tried reading this book at the recommendation of a friend and couldn’t get through it. I don’t think I had the emotional fortitude at the time to deal with it – it is really hard to read. The movie looks well done, it is interesting to see what they are focusing on in the preview which is quite different than how the first half of the book reads.
LOVE Ezra Miller (Tucker, Royal Pains – so cute!) and Tilda, so this is a must see for me!
I haven’t been this excited about a movie coming out! Based on the previews, she looks like she is going to be great too in the role of the mother.
This book was amazing and the twist at the end really got me, did not see it coming AT ALL.
Really excited for the movie!
I couldn’t get through the book, but mostly because I disliked the writing style.
Please read the book first! Lionel Shriver is brilliant. It’s a painful story. Shit, so is mine…but not as bad, so there’s that.
Wow looks SO good. Must watch this!
Oh god, the end of that book still haunts me to this day and I read it years ago!! If it ends the same way in the movie it does in the book just be prepared not to sleep for awhile.
John? Can’t imagine him in a serious film without laughing…
The book was a.maz.ing. Shot up my ‘favourite books ever. EVER’ list only to be kept of the top spot by the continued awesomeness of Pride and Prejudice. I can’t wait to see this although when I was reading the book, in my head, Toni Collette was Eva. No matter, Tilda will nail this, of that I am sure.
I can’t wait! I loved the book read it three times, had different thoughts on it each time. I also let several friends borrow the book, no one could get through it. The last friend didn’t give it back. Disappointing.
I’ll see it. God, I can’t wait for summer-movie season to be over. I have an interminable list of good movies I want to see from September on. Can’t wait!
love tilda and am looking forward to this movie. when i read “morvern callar” i wondered how it would translate to the screen and the director did a great job with it, so i have high hopes she can once again translate a difficult book into something dark and compelling.
Me loves Tilda, true actress!
The subject matter alone makes me freak out. (The SO just started his first official day teaching at a notorious inner city high school today!) But the trailer looks so much more nuanced than your typical school shooting. I’m going to watch it from between my fingers!
Also, I can’t believe John C Reilly is in this movie. I think he’s meant to lull schlubs like me into a false sense of security, then WHAM! Tilda gets you!
I got curious after quite a few of you ladies talked about the book and now I’m rereadig it once again. I seriously had to force myself to put the book down after a few points and sit and think over things. I know the book can be hard to get through due to the way it’s written and subject matter, but please, give it a chance! It’s well worth the read.
I cannot wait for this movie, thanks so much for keeping us updated on the wonderful Tilda, I too read the book and was hainted by it.
Finally, something decent to watch. Cannot wait for this; Tilda never disappoints.
I agree with Kiks: this book has been recommended to me over and over and I just can’t get through it. That being said, I think SWINTON! is perfect for the role but I don’t know if my love for her will be enough to get me to go to this movie. The kid is absolutely incredible, by the way.
I’m looking forward to seeing this.
~Another Tilda fan here 🙂 .
The book was disturbing but completely engrossing. I can’t wait to see Tilda Swinton take this on.
I read the book a few years ago, and it still haunts me the way very few books have. I’m sure Tilda will be phenomenal in the role.
Absolutely in love w/ Tilda.
I have to order some books for my extended holiday, and I think that I’ve just thrown this one into the mix. Thanks, guys.
Just looked up the book, and in light of the hot topic regarding Jennifer Garner’s comment, this is what I found and thought that I should be post:
Author Note:
Lionel Shriver never wanted to have children. Public vs private angst on the subject provided the seed for We Need to Talk About Kevin, her seventh novel.
Hehehe, just like Stewie from Family Guy.
I’m excited for this movie. Tilda, John C. Reilly, and Ezra are all great actors.
I’ve met Ezra and he was humble and quite nice, and he acts his age unlike a lot of young actors who love to act so jaded and over it. I hope the movie does well.
That book will break your brain and then procede to tear it apart. Do read it first if you get the chance. A few years back BBC (I don’t remember which station) Radio did an adaptation and it was chilling. Not just in its events, but in the way that it manages to elicit some pretty ugly reactions throughout from the reader/audience. You’ll be entertained, but you might like yourself a little less.