---
title: "The Unloved: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-unloved/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-unloved"
critics_score: 69
critics_reviews: 8
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."
---

# The Unloved (2009): what the critics said

Critics' score 69 from 8 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative.

Most critics are won over by Samantha Morton’s directorial debut, and the praise clusters on the performances. Molly Windsor’s lead and Lauren Socha are named again and again, with the confrontation between the girl and her mother and the final shot of Lucy trying to smile picked out as the moments that land hardest. Several reviewers also admire the long, unflinching takes and a direction that keeps close to the child’s point of view.

The reservations are about pace and temperature. A minority find the deliberately even tone monotonous, with The Hollywood Reporter judging the film less involving than Morton’s own acting, and Den of Geek finding it too dreary and muted to move as it means to. Others concede the symbolism is heavy in places and the story drifts, but still recommend it. The spread is wide, from warm admiration to one outright dismissal, though positive verdicts clearly outnumber the rest.

## The Guardian — Xan Brooks

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2010. 

Brooks finds the film a fierce, heartfelt and convincing account of childhood in care. He singles out Lauren Socha’s mesmerising performance and the quietly gut-wrenching confrontation between the girl and her mother.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/feb/18/the-unloved-film-review)

## Empire — Phil de Semlyen

Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 27 January 2010. 

The review finds the film bleak but ultimately moving, insightful and uplifting. It singles out the final shot of Lucy trying to smile as especially heartbreaking.

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

## Time Out — Trevor Johnston

Rating 4/5. 16 February 2010. 

The four-star rating indicates a positive verdict on Morton’s directorial debut. The review singles out its cinematic feel and long, unflinching takes.

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

## Variety — Dennis Harvey

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 September 2009. Festival review. 

Harvey finds the film a delicate, wistful portrait that nearly merits the company of great cinematic childhood stories. He especially praises Samantha Morton’s child-centered direction and Molly Windsor’s intimate performance.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/the-unloved-1200475994/)

## Screen Daily — David D'Arcy

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 18 September 2009. 

The page identifies this as a review, but its critical verdict is unavailable in the accessible text. No specific element of praise or complaint can be confirmed.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-unloved/5005859.article)

## The Hollywood Reporter — The Associated Press

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 23 September 2009. Festival review. 

The critic finds the film’s deliberately relentless approach monotonous and less captivating than Morton’s acting. They praise its occasional inventive use of sound, while wishing it offered more variation and dimension.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/unloved-film-review-93573/)

## Eye for Film — Jeff Robson

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2010. 

Robson finds the film a striking, powerful piece of committed British cinema, despite some overdone symbolism and a meandering narrative. He particularly praises the performances, especially those of Molly Windsor and Lauren Socha.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-unloved-film-review-by-jeff-robson)

## Den of Geek — Michael Leader

Rating 3 out of 5. 22 February 2010. 

The review finds the film stylistically assured and atmospheric but too dreary and emotionally distant to be truly moving. It praises Lauren Socha’s performance as the most involving element, while criticizing the muted storytelling for weakening the emotional connection.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-unloved-review-2/)

---
© 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/the-unloved.md