Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Cath Clarke

Empire of Lies review – far-right conspiracist and YouTuber lock horns in Gloucestershire field

Man standing by red door in field, from press still for Empire of Lies
All fear and self-loathing … Joseph Millson in Empire of Lies Photograph: PR IMAGE

There are no prizes for guessing the twist at the end of this claustrophobic two-hander set entirely in a field in Gloucestershire. It starts with a promising premise for a low-budget psychological thriller, and there are solid performances from its two actors, but the film never quite generates enough genuine emotion or moments of intrigue to keep it interesting.

Dave, played by Joseph Millson, is a middle-aged man who lives in a caravan in a field in the middle of farmland and keeps a gun in the kitchen cupboard. Millson’s physical presence does a lot to create a sense of foreboding at the start of the film – all fear and self-loathing, coiled with barely repressed rage. Dave has isolated himself from the world, but then a young woman (Natalie Spence), claiming to be a YouTuber, stomps into his field brandishing a camera.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.