Happy New Year, Colin Burstead
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead

Movie spotlight

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead

2018
Movie
95 min
English

Colin has rented a stately country home for his extended family’s New Year celebrations. He’s the centre of attention until his estranged brother David unexpectedly arrives, throwing the family dynamic far off orbit.

Insights

IMDb5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes78%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users60%
Director: Ben WheatleyGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

Colin decides to rent a remote manor for his extended family to celebrate New Year's Eve, hoping for a peaceful gathering. However, as the alcohol flows and old tensions resurface, the celebration quickly devolves into a chaotic and darkly comedic series of events. Various family members and their eccentricities clash, leading to escalating absurdity and a confrontation with Colin's own perceived failures.

Critical Reception

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead received mixed to positive reviews, with critics often highlighting Ben Wheatley's distinctive directorial style and the film's dark humor. While some found the characters and plot meandering, others praised its raw, unvarnished portrayal of family dynamics and its unique blend of comedy and underlying tension.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its authentic, albeit uncomfortable, depiction of family dysfunction.

  • Lauded for Ben Wheatley's signature dark and often unsettling comedic tone.

  • Some critics found the narrative somewhat aimless, with a lack of strong character arcs.

Google audience: Audiences generally found the film to be a quirky and darkly funny look at family gatherings, with many appreciating its realistic portrayal of awkward interactions and underlying tensions, though some felt it lacked a strong narrative drive.

Fun Fact

The film was shot over a continuous period of 15 days, with the cast and crew living together in the rented manor to fully immerse themselves in the isolated, familial atmosphere.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
SWITCH.

SWITCH.

This odd mix of family, friends, plus ones and exes provides an entertaining - if not uncomfortable - film. By its conclusion, you’re bound to be exhausted by the whole experience, yet simultaneously fixated by the car-crash unfolding in sl...