Reviews

• 

  ★★★★½ review by idris on Letterboxd

  one of the best films of the 21st century imo

• 

  ★★★★ review by Americanguy on Letterboxd

  Did I have to pick one of the most depressing films on Netflix to watch? A young girl goes to stay with her mother in London and gets caught up in violence. First off its depressing, but being American I was laughing too much at times, because of the Londoners dialog. Like we don't say innit here. So a line like KFC innit and "I like you innit" was cracking me up. and the way they use badman "you want to be a badman, so you want to be a badman" I'm sure if you're from the area this makes no sense.
  
  I see in a couple reviewers here felt like I did, that the mother and daughter were the most interesting characters and the story would have been better if they had focused on that relationship instead of the boy drama. Though I got to be honest, seeing the girls youth slipping away felt sad and a bit upsetting. It could have been that type of film, but even as the film it was I found it effective.
  
  I actually thought it was beautifully filmed and directed well. I'm starting to think there's something special about London cinematography or maybe I'm just really catching on. But I loved the cinematography in this and another film Twinsters and so on and so on.

• 

  ★★★★½ review by agard on Letterboxd

  who is more trapped in a honeytrap – the prey that deviates from its course to chase something sweet, or the honey, whose life has been a series of forces exerted upon it, wresting, cleaving, slathering, leading it inescapably to this moment of accessory in a cruel chain of consumption?

  “native son”-esque in its grim determinism, johnson’s nuanced, understated dissection of the social conditions that seal her protagonist’s fate will go unappreciated by those expecting a sordid gangland romp with a lovable hero. also easy to overlook is the note-perfect supporting turn of naomi ryan as layla’s hot-and-cold, world-weary mother. jessica sula iridesces.

• 

  ★★★★ review by Audiences Everywhere on Letterboxd

  "The teenage romance starts off mostly par for the course but its tragic end is something unique. Based on a true story, able to stand on its own without leaning on too many coming-of-age clichés. Without an over-simplified conclusion or an overarching lesson about growing up, Honeytrap leaves Layla nearly as lost in the end as when she arrived, making for an emotionally honest look at a girl’s struggle with young adulthood."

  Read Christina Tucker's review.

• 

  ★★★½ review by Chris Perkins on Letterboxd

  A simplistic but overall effective story that ends on the right note.

• See all reviews