Co-Directed from Christopher Hamspon and Oscar Sansom

Review by Dominic Corr

In Cinemas from 21st October

Stripping away centuries of rose-tinted romance in favour of psychological dread and visceral urgency, Scottish Ballet’s first feature-length film, These Violent Delights, is a triumphant, high-octane reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragic masterpiece through the lens of one of Scotland’s leading producers of art (dance, or otherwise). Co-directed by Christopher Hampson and Oscar Sansom, this seventy-minute dance film completely upends traditional expectations, reframing the familiar narrative as a feverish, impressionistic trip through youth, pressure, and alienation.

At the heart of the production is a clever structural duality in its choreography. Rather than indulging in long, secluded pas de deux, the movement constantly oscillates between tightly entangled duets and suffocating, high-energy group sequences. From the opulence of domestic spaces to the scuzzy, MDMA-fuelled haze of a club night (a magnificent drag sequence of colour and sin at The Apothecary”) the lovers are rarely allowed private sanctuary; their interactions are almost always intruded upon or mirrored by the surrounding ensemble.

The striking exception to this collective chaos lies in Juliet’s solos. Played with exceptional nuance and fierce modern attitude by Kayla-Maree Tarantolo, Juliet becomes the undisputed emotional anchor of the film. Though possessing exquisite chemistry with Ishan Mahabit-Stokes, her solitary moments on screen offer breathtaking windows into her internal turmoil, capturing a young woman fighting for autonomy against parental control and the looming threat of impending doom. In these isolated solos, the movement speaks volumes, contrasting her inner isolation with the relentless, vibrating momentum of the world around her.

The film’s visual language is equally arresting. Rather than simply recording a stage performance, the camera actively inhabits the space. Rapid edits, slick transitions between imagination and reality, and stark lighting choices create a slickly cinematic, claustrophobic atmosphere. The lens lingers on every knotty, athletic detail of the dancers, amplifying the physical stakes of every encounter.

Matching this visual intensity is a pulse-pounding, multi-layered musical score that propels the narrative forward. The soundscape seamlessly shifts from ominous classical arrangements to contemporary, club-driven beats, echoing the intoxicating yet dark atmosphere of the staging. But also note the gorgeous use of Tchaikovsky’s rippling influences throughout.

Fierce, stylish, and thoroughly modern, These Violent Delights secures Scottish Ballet’s place at the absolute cutting edge of dance on screen. It is a bold, unforgettable piece of art that grips from its opening frame and refuses to let go – a gateway to two mediums which many bit their thumb at, only to be proved the fool.

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