--- title: "Apostasy: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/apostasy/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/apostasy" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Apostasy (2017): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 9 reviews: 8 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like Apostasy, and the reviews cluster closely. They describe Kokotajlo’s debut as an intelligent, assured drama about a Jehovah’s Witness family, and nearly all of them note that it declines to sneer at the faith it examines. The praise settles on the three lead performances, and on Molly Wright above all, whose playing of Alex is called tender and emotionally precise. Siobhan Finneran’s subtler turmoil is also singled out, as is the close, claustrophobic cinematography. The reservations are few and mild. The one mixed review, from Little White Lies, calls the film well made and noble in intent but wonders whether the material would have worked better as a documentary, a worry no other critic shares. Beyond that, the spread runs from warm to warmer: the festival notices from autumn 2017 are the most enthusiastic, while the reviews around its 2018 release settle on solid four-star approval. Nobody calls it a failure. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Neil Young Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2017. Festival review. The critic calls the film one of the year’s strongest British works and praises its sensitive, intelligent treatment of faith and individual freedom. He especially highlights the nuanced performances of its three leads. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/apostasy-1045595/) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 October 2017. Festival review. Lodge finds the film fascinating, devastating, and quietly forceful in its examination of faith and institutional obligation. He especially praises the superb performances of the three lead actors, singling out Molly Wright’s emotionally precise portrayal of Alex. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/apostasy-review-1202582502/) ## Empire — Nev Pierce Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2018. Pierce calls it a thoughtful, assured and compelling exploration of faith and fundamentalism. He particularly praises Molly Wright’s radiant performance and the film’s poised, nonjudgmental treatment of authoritarian religion. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/apostasy-review/) ## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall Rating 4/5. The critic finds the drama low-key but potent. They praise how it tests the boundary between religious devotion and family love. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-fiptrt/apostasy/) ## Sight and Sound — Nikki Baughan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 July 2018. Baughan praises the film as a sensitive, assured drama that balances humanity with a clear warning about indoctrination. She singles out the nuanced performances and claustrophobic cinematography for praise. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-apostasy-presents-familys-painful-crisis-faith) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Rating 4/5. 9 October 2017. Festival review. Bradshaw finds the film an intelligent, gripping drama with emotional power. He praises the restrained performances, especially Molly Wright’s tender portrayal and Siobhan Finneran’s subtle turmoil. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/09/apostasy-review-daniel-kokotajlo-jehovahs-witnesses) ## Time Out — Joseph Walsh Rating 4/5. 22 July 2018. Walsh calls it a knockout debut that probes the insidiousness of blind faith. He praises its gripping, thorny portrayal of religious fundamentalism through a Jehovah’s Witness family. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/apostasy) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 September 2017. Festival review. The standfirst presents Kokotajlo’s debut as audacious, suggesting a favorable assessment. It singles out the Jehovah’s Witness setting rooted in his childhood. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/apostasy-san-sebastian-review/5122789.article) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 4/3/3. 26 July 2018. The review finds the film well-crafted and noble in intent, but suggests it might have worked better as a documentary. It praises Kokotajlo’s promise as a filmmaker while noting the documentary-like quality of the subject matter. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/apostasy) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/apostasy.md