DVD release: SAXON gets good press

Saxonites the world over will cherish this merry month of January 2009, when the DVD finally hits the shelves, and reviews hit the magazines, papers, websites – and what a hit! Who would have thought that a film with such humble origins could rise to this? Read on…

“Wielding a budget so low as to be almost imperceptible, first-time director Greg Loftin somehow turns in an original piece of work… Entirely independent and gleefully multi-genre.” (3 stars)
—The Guardian, 23 January 2009

“Saxon has all the ingredients to become another British cult film… it’s the sort of film that a niche audience will adore… strong performances and some droll, quotable dialogue make for an experience highly original, slowly unsettling and defiantly compelling.”
—Clash Magazine (Voted Best Magazine of the Year) 8/10 score

“Saxon is a low-budget Brit-flick that successfully shakes off its monetary shortcomings to prove unexpectedly entertaining… It’s got blood and boxing, crossbows and curries, and enough blackest-comedy laughs to warrant immediate investigation.”
—Rock Sound Magazine

“Twisted, gritty and downright freaky, this British revenge thriller is long overdue its DVD release.”
—Little White Lies

“an engaging debut that bodes well for the future… a worthwhile movie that could easily secure a cult audience”
—DVD Monthly

“Noticeably low on budget it may be, but its filmmakers more than compensate for this with their enthusiasm and originality. They also have a trump card in leading man Sean Harris, best known for his faultless portrayal of Ian Curtis in 24 Hour Party People. A nervy, twitchy human punch-bag, he’s a lovable loser in the same mould as Frank Gallagher of ‘Shameless’ fame.
—Channel4 / Film4

“…a quirky, aspirational enterprise backed by a po-faced turn from Harris. The extras really add to the sense of moviemaking in real-life trenches.”
—Total Film

“Saxon is a triumph of skill and imagination over limitations. It borrows freely from people like David Lynch, Kubrick and classics like the Maltese Falcon and Chinatown, but its very parochial story makes these homages seem fresh and self-parodic. On its own merits and as a blueprint for first time and small budget film makers, Saxon deserves praise. It illustrates that you should use flights of fancy and canny improvisation to hide the holes in pockets of your producers, and if you are creative or talented enough you will succeed. If you can look behind the DIY production, you will be in for a real treat. A low budget British film which is novel and creative given a strong DVD release. Buy it.”
—DVD Monthly