Young Ahmed (NR)
Directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
★★★

HOW does a studious, video game-loving Belgian teenage boy turn into a radicalised Muslim, hell-bent on killing his teacher? Can a blossoming friendship with a girl his own age who challenges his fanatical beliefs be enough to bring him around?

Those are the questions posed by this very powerful and slow-burning drama from writer-directors the Dardenne brothers.

It shows how Ahmed — a standout Idir Ben Addi — after embracing an extremist interpretation of the Quran and under the growing influence of the local Imam (Othmane Moumen) — is slowly groomed and turned into a would-be killer in the name of religion.

He refuses to discuss his beliefs with his family or his teacher and victim Ines (Myriem Akheddiou), who the Imam has labelled an apostate.

It is a harrowing and heartbreaking watch as this youngster, full of so many possibilities, destroys his life and those around him. His mother and family are powerless to stop him.

It offers a fascinating insight and is a springboard for a much-needed debate.

Available on Curzon Home Cinema.

An American Pickle (12A)
Directed by Brandon Trost
★★★

AFTER accidentally being pickled in brine for 100 years, a Jewish immigrant worker wakes up in modern-day Brooklyn determined to find his living relatives in this bizarre fish-out-of-water comedy in which you get two Seth Rogens for the price of one.

Based on Simon Rich’s 2013 short story in the New Yorker and adapted for the screen by Rich himself, this is very much a film of two halves.

The first centres on Hershel Greenbaum’s (Rogen) harsh life as a lonely ditch digger in 1919 and how he emigrates with the love of his life Sarah (Sarah Snook) to the United States to find his fortune.

The second half revolves around him waking up a century later and meeting his great grandson Ben (Rogen) who is a major disappointment as he hasn’t made the Greenbaums great or powerful.

Instead, he has spent the last five years on developing an app which still isn’t ready. While Ben experiences failure and rejection, Hershel’s new-found pickling business becomes an overnight sensation and success thanks to bloggers, instagramers and social media.

What ensues is a jealous Ben sabotaging his great grandfather’s successful venture.

Rogen does a cracking job in playing both roles, though I much prefer him as Hershel as Ben is his normal default persona and performance. The latter has no redeeming qualities — he is horribly cruel and mean while Hershel is full of integrity, ambition and a fearless go-getter attitude.

If you are expecting Rogen’s run-of-the-mill broad-stroke bawdy and gross-out gags then you are in for a shock because the humour is much more low key.

The film is a critique of the most insidious aspects of modern-day life, such as the evils of social media and our unhealthy obsession with it and, although it’s no trailblazing comedy, Rogen’s engaging double act is worth the ticket price.

In cinemas.

Perfect 10 (15)
Directed by Eva Riley
★★★★

AN ASPIRING teenage gymnast’s world is upended by the arrival of her previously unknown half-brother in this bitter-sweet coming-of-age drama.

An impressive debut feature by Eva Riley, it has real-life gymnast and stunning newcomer Frankie Box giving a remarkably nuanced performance as Leigh.

Half-abandoned by her neglectful father, starved of love and plagued by low self-esteem, she finally finds the love and attention she craves from her brother (Alfie Deegan) as her initial mistrust transforms into sisterly feelings.

He helps her pay for her gymnastics class but in turn introduces her to the world of moped crime, which puts her dreams of becoming a gymnast into jeopardy.

It is a sensitive study and portrayal of a sibling relationship driven home by Box and Deegan’s captivating and relatable interactions.

In cinemas and on Curzon Home Cinema and BFI Player.

The Snow Queen: Mirrorlands (U)
Directed by Robert Lence and Aleksey Tsitsilin
★★★

INSPIRED by the story of the Snow Queen, this engaging animated feature centres on a powerful king who decides to rid his land of all magical beings by trapping them in the Mirrorlands where the evil Snow Queen is imprisoned.

Only the kind and loving Gerda can stop him and rescue her family and the rest of the magicians in this thrilling tale, full of colourful characters and stunning animated sequences.

With Gerda resembling Anna in looks and character and the Snow Queen a haughty version of Elsa, you might be forgiven for mistaking this for Frozen.

But no — this is a gripping and action-packed adventure which explores prejudice, intolerance and xenophobia in a magical setting.

A entertaining film that will appeal to young and old alike.

In cinemas.

Flash Gordon (12A)
Directed by Mike Hodges
★★★

IN HONOUR of its 40th anniversary, Mike Hodge’s 1980 cult classic Flash Gordon has received a 4K ultra-high-definition restoration.

As kitsch and cheesy now as it was back then, you can’t fault the gorgeous and sumptuous visuals and the striking soundtrack by Queen in this epic tale of famous American football player Flash Gordon (Sam J Jones) who, with travel agent Dale Arden (Melody Anderson) and mad scientist Dr Hans Zarkov (Topol),  head to the planet Mongo.

There they find themselves battling against the tyrannical Ming the Merciless (Max von Sydow) who, with his God-like complex, intends to wipe out the human race and repopulate the Earth with his and Dale’s offspring.

With its lavish costumes and impressive sets, the film is a camp and tongue-in-cheek comic-book-style creation, featuring an impressive cast including Brian Blessed, Timothy Dalton, Ornella Muti and Robbie Coltrane.

One film that definitely needs to be enjoyed on the big screen.

In cinemas and available on Blu-ray and DVD from August 10.