Gifted Pain

I was one of the lucky people to attend the IMAX premiere of Tobias Jon's Gifted Pain in Bristol last night, and left pleasantly surprised. A long-term passion project of the local lad, it is clear that he has willed this in to being despite a lack of experience and finances- and with several disruptive elements making his debut directing experience a challenging ride. This sort of low budget, ad hoc, make-it-happen movie making is to be applauded and the filmic landscape is healthier for it. But good will and determination does not necessarily a quality product make- so is it actually any good? Happily, yes- and I was invested in the story and characters throughout. It's not perfect- occasionally those budgetary restrictions make themselves clear and it takes a while to get to the action (which when it does arrive proves pleasingly crunchy). The acting is solid throughout from Jon himself, a pleasingly sinister bunch of baddies (and a couple of nice cameos from familiar faces)- but the star of the show is Sarah Jane Duncan with a strong and vulnerable turn as Beth, the woman with whom Jon's Christopher becomes involved. Other highlights are the camerawork and cinematography- making effective use of Bristol's perhaps less scenic alleys and backstreets, and some beautiful drone work showing its beauty. The story -of a man coming to terms with his past and discovering a way to a better future through the rescue of an other troubled soul- we may have seen before, but it's hard not to be invested when the commitment of the cast is evident in realistic, raw (and in the case of Jon very physical) performances. Special mention should go too to Bridget Esmonde and Ben Loftus for make up and camerawork respectively- giving a quality in their work that one would expect to see in something far better financed. Without wishing to patronise it is really remarkable that a self-funded film can look and feel as good as this and I'm excited to see what all involved get up to in the future. Gifted Pain then: I genuinely cared about the characters and story, enjoyed the action and had a good evening at the movies. Recommended.

I had the chance to attend the premiere of Gifted Pain in Bristol this past Saturday night. Going in, I'll admit I had my doubts. The title intrigued me, but I worried the storyline might lean too cheesy, or that the execution might feel amateur. I couldn't have been more wrong. It dives headfirst into the emotional complexity of its characters and doesn't let go. I found myself genuinely getting to know them. The performances were raw, real, and incredibly human.

What stuck with me most is how the film explores the idea of inner power-how, through pain, we find strength. That message hit home in a way I wasn't expecting. Life throws us challenges, sometimes more than we think we can bear. But Gifted Pain brings to life the truth that within that struggle is a gift: the chance to reclaim your life, to fight back, and to right the wrongs. Brought to us in a super human way.

The fight scenes, which I expected might feel a little forced or amateur, were far from it. They were believable, gritty, and genuinely exciting. But even more than the action, it's the emotional weight of the film that makes it unforgettable.

Gifted Pain is not polished in a Hollywood sense-but that's exactly what gives it its power. It's raw, honest, and real. It stays with you long after the credits roll.