Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88% It's actually sort of annoying as to how well Ben Wheatley's low-fi, hallucinogenic drama has been received by critics, given that it's a movie lacking absolutely anything to say, or interesting to explore. Essentially, A Field In England throws a bunch of actors into a scenario, has them chew the scenery, and forgets that it should probably make a point about something, at least, for fear that audiences might find themselves checking their watches or - worse - falling asleep. Which is to say, this movie could have been great; all the elements were there, and with a plot set during the untapped landscape of the English Civil War, there was potential for some gritty dramatic heights. But Wheatley seems more interested in creating a surreal atmosphere, and - as our protagonists gorge themselves on mushrooms - he fails to justify any reason for the madness. 88% percent on Rotten Tomatoes? What the heck were the critics thinking (or taking)?
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
