Come to Daddy
Gory, gross-out black comedy following Norval (Elijah Wood) as he reunites with his estranged father after receiving a cryptic letter. Stephen McHattie, Martin Donovan and Michael Smiley co-star in this directorial debut from producer Ant Timpson (The Greasy Strangler, The ABCs of Death).
"Norval’s (Elijah Wood) life has been, to put it lightly, difficult. Currently living home with his mother, the troubled young man is coming off alcohol-related struggles. So when he receives an unexpected letter from his estranged father requesting a visit, Norval catches a bus up to his dad’s secluded and scenic waterfront home. Maybe reconnecting with his father will give Norval the emotional fulfillment he’s been lacking. Before long, though, he notices something off about his dad, an uneasy feeling triggered by inappropriate comments and a possible over-dependence on booze. Norval quickly realises that his hope of father/son bonding is doomed. Instead of a family reunion, he finds himself in a waking nightmare." (Tribeca Film Festival)
- Director:
- Ant Timpson (feature debut)
- Writer:
- Toby Harvard
- Cast:
- Elijah WoodStephen McHattieOna GrauerMichael SmileyMartin DonovanMadeleine SamiGarfield WilsonSimon Chin
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Tony Stamp
flicksIt’s a wonderfully grotty film, definitely not for the faint of heart. But get on Timpson’s skewiff wavelength and it really is a blast.
Strange, like a 'UFO from the 1960s'
The Geets: Given the formulaic nature of most Horror and Horror-comedy genre ('Horromedy') this movie illuminates the bland scene with intrigue and Kiwi film ingenuity that makes it appreciable and acceptable to Kiwis. However, its unique taste in narrative and grotesquely strange depicts of events unfolding may be not so appealing to the general audience...
New Zealand Listener
pressTimpson’s love of genre also plays a familiar tune, and it’s his ability to surprise – as well as gross out – his audience that makes Come to Daddy an agreeably stomach-churning pleasure.
Stuff
pressEvery great film has a love-story somewhere near its heart, propelling it forward and giving our heroes and villains an emotional payload worth fighting for. The love story in Come To Daddy is clearly visible, early and often.
Los Angeles Times
press"Come to Daddy..." does deliver a good, sick twist; and sometimes that's enough.
The New York Times
pressEnjoyable performances... hold the film to its redemptive goals, even as it descends into what can only be described as bloody bedlam.
Hollywood Reporter
pressUnfortunately, the movie is far more effective in its first half than its second, which degenerates into cheap shocks, absurd plot contrivances and vulgarism for its own sake.
Collider
pressFunny and F'ed in the head with a cartoonish sense of humour that borders on magical realism, Come to Daddy is a strange brew, but it's a good one.
Variety
pressThe blend of tired jokes and body horror here seems entombed in amber, as every lacerated scalp, loudly broken limb, and use of the C-word makes it feel that much less original.
IndieWire
pressA gory hilarious father-son reunion saga with a surprising degree of confidence in the silly-strange nature of the material.
Film Threat
pressMy favorite horror offering of the year so far. It’s smart, uncompromising, inventive and just downright hilarious.
Flicks, Tony Stamp
flicksIt’s a wonderfully grotty film, definitely not for the faint of heart. But get on Timpson’s skewiff wavelength and it really is a blast.
New Zealand Listener
pressTimpson’s love of genre also plays a familiar tune, and it’s his ability to surprise – as well as gross out – his audience that makes Come to Daddy an agreeably stomach-churning pleasure.
Stuff
pressEvery great film has a love-story somewhere near its heart, propelling it forward and giving our heroes and villains an emotional payload worth fighting for. The love story in Come To Daddy is clearly visible, early and often.
Los Angeles Times
press"Come to Daddy..." does deliver a good, sick twist; and sometimes that's enough.
The New York Times
pressEnjoyable performances... hold the film to its redemptive goals, even as it descends into what can only be described as bloody bedlam.
Hollywood Reporter
pressUnfortunately, the movie is far more effective in its first half than its second, which degenerates into cheap shocks, absurd plot contrivances and vulgarism for its own sake.
Collider
pressFunny and F'ed in the head with a cartoonish sense of humour that borders on magical realism, Come to Daddy is a strange brew, but it's a good one.
Variety
pressThe blend of tired jokes and body horror here seems entombed in amber, as every lacerated scalp, loudly broken limb, and use of the C-word makes it feel that much less original.
IndieWire
pressA gory hilarious father-son reunion saga with a surprising degree of confidence in the silly-strange nature of the material.
Film Threat
pressMy favorite horror offering of the year so far. It’s smart, uncompromising, inventive and just downright hilarious.
Strange, like a 'UFO from the 1960s'
The Geets: Given the formulaic nature of most Horror and Horror-comedy genre ('Horromedy') this movie illuminates the bland scene with intrigue and Kiwi film ingenuity that makes it appreciable and acceptable to Kiwis. However, its unique taste in narrative and grotesquely strange depicts of events unfolding may be not so appealing to the general...
Share