An audacious film that only falters when it tries to be a crowd pleaser.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 31, 2021

The journey is pretty bleak, rarely varies in tone and as for Ben, just as he struggles to relate to the world, how are we meant to relate to him?

| Aug 23, 2018

The ambitious themes are treated with great sensitivity and imaginative power in a tale that is both touching and beguiling, pushing beyond the form and frame of conventional feature-length fiction.

| Sep 26, 2017

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 16, 2011

From the opening moments, as the graphics of the Archlord online game intercut with the world of Dutch teenager Ben (Greg Timmermans), we know we're in for something special

| Aug 29, 2009

There is a lot to like about this daring drama but the final act pushes the suspension of disbelief to the extreme.

| Mar 26, 2009

Greg Timmermans gives an exemplary performance as the title character, making his withdrawn loneliness a palpable thing.

| Original Score: B+ | Mar 12, 2009

Writer/director Nic Balthazar, adapting his own novel, would fool most as a first time filmmaker, as "Ben X" compellingly pulls one into Ben's world...

| Original Score: B | Mar 2, 2009

There are lessons to be learned, but rarely have such lessons been transformed into such vivid and emotionally affecting drama.

| Original Score: B+ | Feb 26, 2009

In adapting his novel and subsequent stage play, first-time writer-director Nic Balthazar seems more intent on impressing World of Warcraft gamers than honestly exploring the inner life of the mildly autistic boy at the center of his story.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Feb 26, 2009

This is a movie specially made for viewers who like a surprise ending.

| Original Score: B | Feb 24, 2009

The film is harrowing, if maybe a bit melodramatic, until it crashes and burns in a feel-good ending.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Dec 29, 2008

A provocative, exultant stunner.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 5, 2008

The best movie I've seen about teen angst since Donnie Darko comes from Belgium?

| Nov 26, 2008

The Flemish dialogue is not the only distinction of Belgian Nic Balthazar's confident, fearless directorial debut.

| Nov 21, 2008

Undeniably a high-level achievement.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 24, 2008

There's not a moment of warmth or ease in Ben X, Nic Balthazar's punishingly cacophonous debut.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Oct 24, 2008

The best movie I've seen about teen angst since Donnie Darko comes from Belgium?

| Oct 22, 2008

Balthazar's aesthetic is ugly, aloof, maddeningly literal and unimaginative.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Oct 19, 2008

Ben X boldly melds virtual reality with live-action vrit style and docudrama to create what may be a new film grammar.

| Oct 18, 2008