---
title: "Second Coming: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/second-coming/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/second-coming"
critics_score: 70
critics_reviews: 12
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."
---

# Second Coming (2014): what the critics said

Critics' score 70 from 12 reviews: 8 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative.

## Little White Lies — Ashley Clark

Rating 4/4/4. 4 June 2015. 

Clark praises the film as an intriguing, morally ambiguous family drama and sees it as the arrival of a major filmmaking talent. He singles out Nadine Marshall’s extraordinary performance and the film’s atmospheric, carefully poised cinematic style.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/second-coming)

## Radio Times — Trevor Johnston

Rating 4/5. 

The four-star rating indicates a positive verdict. The critic singles out the film’s intertwining of everyday life and spirituality.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-awqh2f/second-coming/)

## The Guardian — Mark Kermode

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 June 2015. 

Kermode finds the film an elusive but affecting drama with a tangible human heart. He praises the believable performances, especially Nadine Marshall’s nuanced central turn.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/07/second-coming-mark-kermode-review)

## Time Out — Dave Calhoun

Rating 4/5. 1 June 2015. 

The review regards the film as an impressive, uneasy family drama. It singles out Idris Elba’s powerful performance and the searching writing for praise.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/second-coming)

## Sight and Sound

Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 15 July 2020. 

The critic finds the film subtle and ultimately uplifting, despite its refusal to explain Jackie’s pregnancy. They particularly praise Nadine Marshall’s portrayal of frozen despair and vulnerability.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/second-coming-review-motherhood-other-miracles)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2015. 

O’Sullivan calls it a brazenly weird romantic drama that rewards viewers who stay with its slow pace. She praises the performances, Green’s jolting rhythms, and a touching ending.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/second-coming-film-review-idris-and-the-case-of-the-baby-bump-10299602.html)

## Empire — Simon Crook

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2015. 

Crook calls the drama an intriguing, still-unformed arrival of a new British cinema voice. He singles out Nadine Marshall’s subtle, soulful performance as its most resonant element.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/second-coming-review/)

## Variety — Andrew Barker

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2014. Festival review. 

Barker finds the film oblique and engrossing, though its languid, fragmented storytelling can test viewers’ patience. He praises the cast, especially Nadine Marshall’s performance and the sustained restraint of young Kai Francis Lewis.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/toronto-film-review-second-coming-1201304045/)

## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 2015. 

The review’s verdict is unavailable because the article text is paywalled. No praise or complaint is visible in the accessible text.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/second-coming-review/5088997.article)

## The Hollywood Reporter — Stephen Dalton

Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2014. Festival review. 

Dalton finds the film intriguing but ultimately overlong and underpowered, with its unanswered mysteries weakening the premise. He praises Nadine Marshall’s intense, layered performance and the film’s subtle observations about family power dynamics.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/second-coming-toronto-review-731124/)

## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2015. 

Kermode finds the film worthwhile but says it never fully delivers on its strong central idea. She especially praises Nadine Marshall’s quietly intense performance as Jax.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/second-coming-2014-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)

## NME

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 

The review finds the film tense and unflinching, with Elba’s performance compelling. It singles out the stifling awkwardness of a dinner scene as especially effective.

[Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-various-artists-16107-314489)

---
© 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/second-coming.md