Critic Reviews

• Anna Smith, Time Out

  This is an inspiring story, but it's badly told. Best read the book instead.

• Sophie Ivan, Film4

  In this case, truth isn't stranger than fiction, it's just strangely hackneyed.

• Charlotte O'Sullivan, This is London

  Director Nick Moran obviously feels strongly about the material but fails to create a consistent tone.

• Allan Hunter, Daily Express

  A de-glamourised Natascha McElhone is so unconvincing as the harridan of a mother that her performance is hard to take seriously.

• David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]

  It's a heck of a lot better than director Nick Moran's last movie (Joe Meek biopic Telstar), but could have done with tighter storytelling and better casting.

• Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

  The Kid is an accomplished adaptation of Lewis's novel that hammers home Kevin's suffering at the hands of a monstrous matriarch.

• Alex Zane, Sun Online

  [An] excellent adaptation of Kevin Lewis's bestselling book about his difficult and at times harrowing life.

• Marc Lee, Daily Telegraph

  Nick Moran -- like Casey Affleck, an actor-turned-director -- marshals his relentlessly grim material unflinchingly, and Rupert Friend, as the adult Kevin, is engaging and convincing in a complex role.

• Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

  If you have tears, prepare to shed them for some other tale of woe.

• Jason Goodyer, Little White Lies

  Lewis' story is unquestionably horrific but by forcing it into the mould of a triumph-over-adversity heart-warmer, all of the raw, nasty edges have been smoothed off to leave a sickly-sweet wad of gloop.

• David Aldridge, Radio Times

  Sadly, in relating Kevin Lewis's journey from physically and emotionally abused child to best-selling novelist, Moran displays a tendency towards melodrama that overwhelms the story.

• Neil Smith, Total Film

  If you're going to make a biopic about an abused child who grows up to be a bare-knuckle boxer, it might help to hire an actor who looks like he can actually handle himself in a scrap or two.

• Philip Wilding, Empire Magazine

  Strong performances by Rupert Friend and Augustus Prew as the grown-up and teenage Kevin give Moran's rite-of-passage tale genuine emotional ballast. A worthy follow-up to Telstar.

• Robbie Collin, News of the World

  From the film's tough opening all the way to the credits, director Nick Moran ladles everything on thick. Some viewers might complain that makes the film a shameless heartstring-tugger. Others, including me, won't see why that's a problem.

• Elliott Noble, Sky Movies

  Raw, absorbing and packing a powerful punch, The Kid marks Moran as a serious contender.

• Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

  Impressively directed, superbly written and frequently harrowing, this is a brilliantly acted drama that delivers a powerfully emotional punch.

Read all 16 critic reviews