The Kitchen (2023) Thriller Movie Review
In their first venture as directors, award-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares present "The Kitchen," a story unfolding in a not-so-distant, troubled London. The film delves into the struggles of finding affordable housing, amplifying the stakes in a way that feels like a warning about our future, especially as the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen.
The main character, Izi (played by Kane Robinson), resides in a unique place called the Kitchen. Picture it as a futuristic housing project that has evolved into its own distinct world—a cluster of buildings reminiscent of Hong Kong's former Kowloon Walled City. Nestled on the outskirts of London, the Kitchen is home to the city's impoverished population and frequently faces harsh police raids.
Izi works in the city at a futuristic funeral service called Life After Life. Here, families lacking the funds for a traditional burial can opt to have their loved ones transformed into trees for planting. Sensing that his community is on the verge of being taken over by the government, Izi and others have been preparing and saving up to leave the Kitchen behind.
%20Thriller%20Movie.jpg "The Kitchen (2023) Thriller Movie")
As police raids intensify and the Kitchen faces worsening conditions, Izi and Benji confront the growing conflict and violence together. Their journey becomes a tale of learning and, for Benji, relearning how to navigate the world with someone else by their side.
The best thing about the movie is how Kaluuya and Tavares directed it. They create intense scenes and quiet moments that show what the characters are thinking and feeling. The Kitchen, where the story is set, is cool too. People there use spoons and pans to make noise when the police are coming. The colors in the movie are awesome, from the plain and rusty buildings to the bright lights of the underground parties.
Most movies about poor communities only show sad stuff, but not this one. The Kitchen movie doesn't just use poverty as a simple symbol. It shows the tough parts of life, but also adds little details that make the world feel real. For example, there's a part where they say water is only on one side of the community because the city cut it off. Plus, there are police drones buzzing around, showing how closely they watch poor neighborhoods. The film also takes time to highlight everyday things like coming-of-age moments, such as Benji trying to kiss someone. It adds fun moments that celebrate Black culture, like freestyle battles and cool music.
The actors, Robinson and Bannerman, do a great job showing their characters' feelings. Bannerman's innocence contrasts with Robinson's toughness, and they balance each other out well.
But, even though the movie is immersive, the story sometimes gets too complicated. It leaves some things unanswered, making it feel like it's setting up for a sequel. The focus on Izi and Benji is good, but it forgets to explore the cool world it built at the start, missing a chance to show more.