This is an emotional drama about a 15 year old boy, Richard, who has learning difficulties, he lives with Polly, his brother? he is a pikey/gypsy? with a liquid diet. They are struggling to live in in a small dilapidated caravan on a farm that has just been sold to new owners. Richard lives in his own world while Polly scavenges for work where he can. Richard's best friend is a Chicken called Fiona, his other friends are dead (roadkill) animals. Then along comes the daughter of the new owners of the farm, Annabell who befriends Richard. The performances by Scott Chambers -Richard, Yasmin Page -Annabell and Morgan Watkins -Polly are quite remarkable and show promise as future great British talent. This really touched me on a personal level and I couldn't hold back the tears at the end. A beautifully sad story, well worth seeing.
7 Reviews
All good things come to those who wait
Vondaz18 April 2017
That's not an a review of the plot line, more the need for the viewer to persevere. My initial reaction after the first few minutes was to switch it off. I found it difficult to understand what the 2 brothers were saying, and nothing annoys me more than the need to constantly ask "what did he say?". But after a while your ears become attuned to their speech patterns and you find yourself immersed and gripped by the developments.
I won't talk about the plot detail other than to say it's a proper drama that repays the viewer.
Oh and as for Scott Chambers . . . what a performance. This was the first time I'd seen him on screen and I had to check his background to see if he was acting or if this was just him being him - he was acting. I hope to see him in more movies soon.
I won't talk about the plot detail other than to say it's a proper drama that repays the viewer.
Oh and as for Scott Chambers . . . what a performance. This was the first time I'd seen him on screen and I had to check his background to see if he was acting or if this was just him being him - he was acting. I hope to see him in more movies soon.
A meandering and heart wrenching tale that should be watched by more
mattmusko13 October 2020
I watched this for "free" via Amazon Prime Video a few months ago. As of today I can still do that. I probably would be willing to shell out a few bucks to watch it again now that I know how moving this film is. The casting is great and the story is compelling if not inherently depressing. It is hard not to empathize with the protagonist and the twist at the end is rather disturbing but explains quite a lot. If you are able to watch this via an existing subscription to a streaming service then please do that. It's best to refrain from providing summaries that could give plot points away so I'll end this review here. Just watch it...I doubt you will be disappointed.
Don't chicken out on seeing this one.
hunsletramone6 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
What a marvelous emotional film this is , riveting from the beginning to the end. Scott Chambers plays Richard a fifteen year old lad with learning difficulties who talks to alive and dead animals with a chicken being his best pal. and what a part he plays so well.
He lives in a dirty run down caravan with his bullying brother Polly , who is under pressure seeing to him every day. but Richard is such a nice lad you can't help but like him , when he does daft stuff,but when he makes a friend in a wealthy rich girl whose family own the land that they are living on in their caravan things look up a bit for him.I won't tell you much more about this film only to watch it , as the acting is first class from everyone in it. I gave this film a 9 out of 10 and that's a huge score from me , but the film deserves it.
He lives in a dirty run down caravan with his bullying brother Polly , who is under pressure seeing to him every day. but Richard is such a nice lad you can't help but like him , when he does daft stuff,but when he makes a friend in a wealthy rich girl whose family own the land that they are living on in their caravan things look up a bit for him.I won't tell you much more about this film only to watch it , as the acting is first class from everyone in it. I gave this film a 9 out of 10 and that's a huge score from me , but the film deserves it.
British drama at its best
michael-kerrigan-526-12497420 October 2018
Chicken. A low budget British drama about a guy with learning difficulties and his relationship with his apparently brutish brother. The first half was slow but beautifully shot. The second half was devastating. Not going to give anything away but watch if you can. 8 out of ten
Chicken - A Heavy Run
krocheav1 March 2022
After reading about this oddity, looked forward to it being a thoughtful character study with heart and a message - a message it has but perhaps little heart. It's a low budget indie production that features a surprisingly stylised look. This comes via the talents of short and TV director of photography Eben Bolter's professional work ethic. He, along with some committed work by first-time director Joe Stephenson, give it a better than average look. Performances are mostly border line with Morgan Watkins perhaps faring best as the brutish, utterly despicable older 'brother'. He's given some OK backup from Scott Chambers in the difficult role of Richard the younger 'brother'.
It's difficult to call this entertainment and fits better into the modern social expose' of all that's despicable about heavily failed family relationships - and the grotty characters who prey on the vulnerable. Lovely country locations are about the only pleasing aspects on display here with maybe a little help from a cute chicken. Tom Linden supplies a thoughtful music score - adding what little warmth can be taken from a heavy study of all that's wrong within an immoral society.
Interesting but grueling and depressing with limited sustaining relief, that might perhaps leave some wondering if the makers may have been enjoying the negativity a little too much (?)
It's difficult to call this entertainment and fits better into the modern social expose' of all that's despicable about heavily failed family relationships - and the grotty characters who prey on the vulnerable. Lovely country locations are about the only pleasing aspects on display here with maybe a little help from a cute chicken. Tom Linden supplies a thoughtful music score - adding what little warmth can be taken from a heavy study of all that's wrong within an immoral society.
Interesting but grueling and depressing with limited sustaining relief, that might perhaps leave some wondering if the makers may have been enjoying the negativity a little too much (?)
Poison
texxas-17 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This was the most disgusting and depressing film I've ever seen. You have a mentally disabled teen Richard with a speech impediment who is constantly being physically abused,mentally abused, neglected and disrespected by his older brother Polly who actually turns out to be his father (that's the spoiler). The boy just takes the abuse and doesn't fight back and continues to give this evil freak love and respect while getting nothing but abuse in return. The pair live in squalor. The evil freak of a brother eventually leaves him and we watch the disabled boy whaling in sadness. The only supposed good thing about the film is the friendship Richard has with a girl who appears to feel sorry for him, but I didn't find this redeeming at all. When I was through watching I felt tearful and depressed at such evil in the world.
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