Ratcatcher
Ratcatcher Image
Metascore
76 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
9.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 18 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Summary: The story of a twelve year old boy (Eadie) living in working-class Glasgow, Scotland during the 1970's garbage strikes, Ratcatcher portrays the difficulties of his reality and his desire to escape through dreams.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    90
    Easily the best directorial debut of the year, and possibly the most mature and haunting film to ever come out of Scotland, Lynne Ramsay's Ratcatcher is a throat-catching masterpiece of lyricism, observation, and stone-cold realism.
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  2. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Robert Horton
    80
    The bleakness of the material ought to make Ratcatcher a depressing experience, yet Ramsay's power as an image-crafter transforms this grim universe.
    All this critic's reviews
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Amy Taubin
    80
    The most audacious debut feature of the year.
  4. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Charles Taylor
    60
    A large part of the movie's problem is that both the characters and the actors who portray them serve as vehicles for Ramsay's stylistic flourishes.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. gailk
    10
    This is an amazing debut art film about poverty and the beauty of the human spirit to find happiness in difficult places.
  2. Sindri
    9
    Lyrical and envisaged soul-search - Lynne Ramsay's feature debut is quiet childhood tale with heavenly photography, moody music, authentic milieu depictions and magnetic direction. The year is 1973 and the working class is influenced by a garbage streak that over-floods the streets with trash, rats and misfortune. In a dirty neighborhood in Glasgow twelve year old James lives with his beer drinking father, housewife mother and two sisters. One day when he's out playing with his friend Ryan down by a lake, the playing gets out of hand and Ryan drowns. In a state of chock James vanishes from the scene of the crime and removes all suspicion away from himself. This tragic event causes James' parents great concern, and while James is at a loss as to whether he is going to tell what really happened, feelings of guilt begins to absorb him and gradually he slips into a lonely and introvert state that threatens to overshadow his perception of reality.

    This film which was given English subtitles in England due to the characters particular Scottish dialect is an unglamorous and realistic portrayal of the working class in Glasgow during the 1970s which on one side is an extensive allegory of a gritty society struck by inflation and on the other a shining fable about childhood dreams.

    With chronological narrative and credible storytelling Ramsay conceives a nostalgic mood that reminds us of the wholly days of childhood. Somewhere within all this sad melancholy that influences the characters, Ramsay is able to captivate lovely images of nature that creates efficient and natural contrasts. Ramsay's human insight an directorial talent comes to show when she takes us in to the core of a 12 year old boys mentality and exposes his soul with modest precision. The actors are convincing in their respective parts and William Eadie delivers an outstanding performance in the role of the seldom character James. Ramsay's distinct form of expression and personal style shows a confidence and an understanding for movie making that stands out. This is a lyrical and contemplating film about adjusting in a world that's easy to be deflected by, but impossible to write off.    … Expand

See all 11 User Reviews

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