[The Kitchen Review Netflix] A low-budget sci-fi film narrates a simple and uninteresting story throughout.

The Kitchen An English original Netflix film depicting intergenerational relationships in a dystopian future within the last community of London.

The Kitchen Review Netflix

 

The movie from Daniel Kaluuya , the lead actor in “Get Out,” where he serves as the writer and director, narrates a story set in dystopian London. The gap between the rich and the poor has reached its limits, and societal segregation has been eradicated in all forms. Only “The Kitchen,” a community refusing to move from what they call home, remains. Here, we encounter Izzy, a solitary individual residing here for a long time, desperately trying to find a way out. He crosses paths with Benji, a 12-year-old boy who has lost his mother and is searching for his father believed to be in this last community.

The movie belongs to the dystopian sci-fi genre, but the storyline doesn’t explicitly indicate a specific time period. There is almost no distinct sci-fi element, except for the opening scene that reveals a vast and futuristic city with flying vehicles in the sky. The city seems somewhat dystopian, and there is a service called “Life After Life,” which transforms the deceased into trees for the remaining families as a memorial or visitation during the early stages of growth.

The protagonist works in this setting and encounters a boy who has lost his mother. After this point, the narrative hardly introduces any prominent sci-fi elements, except for a news-reading glass. What remains thereafter seems almost entirely contemporary, including police surveillance drones, officers in traditional riot gear, and conventional transportation methods such as bicycles and regular motorcycles. It is understandable that budget constraints may have limited the creation of a fully realized sci-fi world. The production seems to present a dystopian setting more in name than in actuality, as the external world portrayed remains largely unchanged from the present day.

 

The storyline focuses on “The Kitchen,” a community that resembles a vertically oriented slum on a building. The residents lead traditional lives, engaging in trade and livelihood activities. There is an elderly DJ whose voice echoes throughout the community, creating a lively atmosphere. The narrative primarily follows the life of Izzy, who is preparing to move away from this place. However, he encounters a boy named Benji and discovers a mystery Benji’s father, who is believed to be in this community.

The story unfolds as a simple, gradual narration of the cross-generational friendship. The pacing is slow, spanning almost two hours, and eventually, Izzy decides to leave because he has acquired accommodation outside and no longer cares about the community. However, Benji’s concern becomes the final reason for him to contemplate whether he should leave or not.

Throughout the film, there is an attempt to portray the community’s struggles against the government or authorities attempting to seize control. However, the film lacks explanations, leaving viewers without a clear understanding of the situation. Despite portraying scenes of characters experiencing loss and pain, the film fails to evoke much emotion. It becomes a movie that attempts to narrate a simple drama and concludes with a small hint about the identity of Benji’s father.

 

Summary: Daniel Kaluuya’s first film is limited to experimental directing and loosely written script. The movie faces challenges as it attempts to play in the sci-fi dystopian genre, lacking the budget for world-building and falling short in its attempt at a nuanced production. The film shifts to narrate the life of a small community and the relationships among characters of different ages, presenting an overall life drama without any clear climax. It is recommended to skip this one.

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