Lava (2001) User Reviews

Lava

[mustican · 6/10 · 15 June 2006]

If you haven't been to London, you have been losing too much. If you have been to London but totally forgot to walk around, this is even worse. But to have an idea, you could certainly watch Lava. For an unknown reason, Lava gives me the feeling of London, although most of the film takes place indoors. Philip works in a supermarket. He is a quiet person, he lives with his dad and his sick brother. All he wants is to revenge on the assailant who beaten up his brother to disability. When Philip finds out about the assailant's release, he persuades his lodger Smiggy(Joe Tucker) to assist him. After buying the necessary gadgets to kill him, they set off to his girlfriend's flat to finish him off but find that he is not at home. While waiting they find out that she has stolen big amount of cocaine from a Jamaican gang. With Notting Hill carnival backgrounds, this black comedy crime film gives us a bit of a feeling of a play. That leads us to think that director Tucker's movie was made with limited resources. However, a delight to watch this small film. *** out of *****

Funny, dark little gem

[luckyunicorn · 10/10 · 17 October 2016]

I watched this again recently when it was re-released at Carnival time in a 20 year anniversary edition.

Once I'd got past (or have I got past it, really, and will I ever?) coming to terms that it had been 20 years since this was made, I was impressed at how well it still stood up.

Apparently a favourite with The League of Gentlemen, it's a properly eccentric and dark sideways take on the botched crime caper/ revenge drama. The cast are real characters and it's all played with a kind of sinister charm.

It's very British, very independent, completely individual and we need films like this more than ever as mainstream vanilla pap floods the theatres.

Joe Tucker needs to make another movie, and I hope we don't have to wait another 20 years.

One of the best dark comedies I've ever seen

[tim-136-819200 · 10/10 · 18 October 2014]

This has got to be one of my favourite movies ever, the writing is excellent and really makes you want to invest in the story and the characters. Uber violent and massively un-compromising, darkly funny with moments of gentle sweetness. This in my opinion is one THE most underrated movies of all time, Notting Hill Carnival day is the backdrop for the 1 day that it takes to bring the characters into contact with each other in glorious chaos and confusion with varying degrees of success and failure and lots of dark humour, the movie has so many funny, clever and quotable lines I must have watched this film 100 times and I still laugh out loud and enjoy every minute of it. The description on the front cover "Laurel and Hardy directed by Scorsese" is absolutely spot on.

Great Script and incredibly funny.

[Crocodile919 · 10/10 · 1 May 2017]

This is a must see, you could release this movie today and it would still kick the ass of the best movies out there - done on a tiny budget but achieves so much proving a good script and good cast means everything. I laughed so much it hurt, this movie needs a re release in the Cinema's, untouched and as it was originally shot, it just doesn't need ANYTHING changing

Have I mentioned I love this movie!!

Fresh and funny

[rmfr · 10/10 · 27 January 2002]

Lava has taken a long time to get to the cinemas. Unjustifiably, really. It is a funny, well-acted movie. It is hyper-violent, but most of the violence is off-camera. And Joe Tucker's Smiggy character has some inspired, loopy moments of byplay. Look out for the "You talkin' to me?" Taxi-driver hommage. Hilarious.

Good Debut

[critic67 · 6 April 2002]

Like a cross between Taxi Driver and Rising Damp, Joe Tucker's debut shows a real flair.

It has drive and energy and like most interesting Brit Flicks of the last few years (like the excellent 'Dead Babies')it suffered at the hands of terrible distribution.

At times this is difficult to watch, Tom Bell takes hideous to a new level, but it's a brave and worthwhile 90 minutes.

Well worth a rental.

The best movie I've seen lately

[sparky23 · 30 November 2001]

Lava is a film of its own. When I had watched it the first time, I knew it wouldn't take long and I'd want to see it again, ...and again, ...and again! It contains an awesome sense of humor and a special way of mixing weird acts of violence with emotions lived through by the two main characters. I was stunned be the way it made me laugh and feel somewhat sad in the next moment. The colorful setting stands in total contrast to the brutal events in *lava*. The main two characters are portrayed in a strange way which makes you love them, probably this is the main reason for not wanting this movie to end. Definately a little masterpiece worth watching over and over!

Stylish, carnival hit job comedy

[hollow_statues · 15 May 2000]

Lava is a wicked, dark comedy about a supermarket shelf stacker and an incompetent mercenary, seeking revenge on a small time drug dealer. Based on the same real life event as 'the last yellow' (The directors are brothers!). Although taking a similar inspiration, the stories couldn't be more different. Lava is gritty, gory and above all a bit of a laugh. But don't take it too seriously.