The ambience and immersion created by the graceful animation and punchy sound design quickly wears thin as The Red Turtle reveals itself to be a ponderously self-important work. The curious decision to avoid dialogue altogether makes it quite difficult to care about the hollow little figure at the centre of it, and the heavy use of metaphor doesn't help ratchet up the emotional appeal, either. I spent most of the running time wishing I was watching Cast Away or even that similarly laconic sea adventure All is Lost.
Review of The Red Turtle
