Il Fantasma di Mio Padre

A really well thought out and considered film, slow but atmospheric with tension building along the way, not least with the father and son relationship. If your looking for a typical British crime / gangster film look elsewhere but if your in the mood for something slower and innovative (shot on an iPhone 8 - really!!!????) then give it a go, I love the usual UK blokey/ crime stuff, however this isn't it, nonetheless I have to say it's the finest hidden gem I've found all year. I don't normally write reviews but really felt this deserved one.

I found Ghost to be an engaging and moving piece - a thoughtfully considered plot keeps its audience absorbed throughout. Relatable characters are complemented perfectly through the talented acting, while the mood of the film is captured superbly by the ominous music and sound camera work. This all combines to bring a sinister aura, as the tension in the movie builds to its dramatic finale. Highly engrossing - would hugely recommend.

It's the subtlety of the camera placement, the deeply affecting silence, and the brilliant, non-verbal work of two very talented actors, that take Ghost to its soaring heights in visual storytelling. Hamilton and Streeter's chemistry is infectious - and if the point was to closely examine a fractured father-son relationship (it was), then James and the entire crew succeeded.

Impressive not only considering its budget and small production scale, Ghost delivers genuinely gripping drama and poignant emotion in sleek fashion throughout, proving the immense potential of even the smallest films.

Shot entirely on a smartphone, it's really quite incredible just how cinematic and spectacular this film looks. With brilliant cinematography and visual style throughout, Ghost lends a sleek, almost imposing edge to the city of London, heightening the emotional intensity of its story enormously.

Many London crime dramas will use a down-to-earth, gritty portrayal of the city to drive their stories home, but the way that this film avoids that in favour of something a little more poignant is particularly telling of why it's such a powerful and memorable watch.

Uniquely pensive and patient for its genre, the film looks at the nature of a complicated father-son relationship and the vestiges of a troubled past in gripping fashion, fostering challenging, powerful and often strikingly uncomfortable dramatic depth throughout.

The lead performance from Anthony Mark Streeter is fantastic, as he manages to strike a perfect balance between some of the more generic gritty sensibilites of the film's story and something a lot more profound, while Nathan Hamilton, who plays his son, also impresses with a steely and strong-willed turn that more than matches up to Streeter.

Couple those excellent performances with a riveting screenplay and a perfectly pitched atmosphere brought to life by director Anthony Z. James, and Ghost really has a lot to offer on a deep, emotional level - not to mention its profound, almost transcendent musical score that puts you in a trance from the very start of the film.

For a film shot on such a small scale and with such a small budget, I was blown away by how masterful Ghost was. It's a gripping watch that blends more generic sensibilities with profound, challenging drama, while it also delivers deeply poignant emotion through its use of atmosphere, score, cinematography and performances. And with all that considered, it really is an impressive watch.

First, I have to state, this isn't a movie for everyone. And it's actually not even a movie for me. The film is really slow and takes a long time to get going. If you're not looking for a contemplative British movie About real life, then I would look else where.

However, if you do like indie movies inspired by John Cassavetes with long lingering beautiful cinematography, this movie is for you. Interesting story once it gets going and I'm still shocked to find out it was filmed on an iPhone. Overall, the acting was good and once the story starts about halfway into the movie, I really enjoyed the characters and what they were dealing with. Overall, well done.