80
Metascore
10 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisThe New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisImpressively lean and rigidly controlled, “The Survivalist” achieves, at times, the primitive allure of a silent movie.
- 83The Film StageEd FranklThe Film StageEd FranklThis is a strangely believable dystopia, and all the more brilliant for it.
- 80EmpireKim NewmanEmpireKim NewmanThis is a harsh, unsentimental science fiction film, though the performances suggest small surviving flames of empathy and yearning amid the tough, practical attitudes.
- 80The GuardianPeter BradshawThe GuardianPeter BradshawThe physical suspense is all but unbearable: a sexualised hunger, fear and need. Fingleton writes and directs with gusto and flair.
- 80Time Out LondonTime Out LondonThe cautious chemistry between the three characters means the atmosphere is never less than taut, and it provides the perfect launchpad for a tense, poignant finale that marks Fingleton out as a name to watch.
- 80Total FilmMatt GlasbyTotal FilmMatt GlasbyToo slow for the mainstream, perhaps, this presents a disgusted worldview thats painstakingly plausible, however much we may wish differently.
- 80Los Angeles TimesKatie WalshLos Angeles TimesKatie WalshThe camera work is meticulous and exquisite in its expression, creating a sense of tense foreboding throughout, linking characters and images with a creepy omniscience.
- 80Village VoiceCraig D. LindseyVillage VoiceCraig D. LindseyDirected with a muted tone but a scenic eye by Brit first-timer Stephen Fingleton, The Survivalist, like most postapocalyptic movies, is both dire and oddly poetic.
- 75The A.V. ClubKatie RifeThe A.V. ClubKatie RifeThe Survivalist rewards with thoughtful cinematography — one fluid shot that effectively shifts the balance of power in a scene is especially noteworthy — and character development. But viewers looking for zombie attacks or thrilling chase scenes should go elsewhere.
- 60We Got This CoveredDavid JamesWe Got This CoveredDavid JamesLean and mean, The Survivalist a realistically miserable apocalypse - and all the more terrifying for it.