Here, Cage plays the title character in David Gordon Green’s second film from his ‘Indie’ trilogy (with Prince Avalanche – read our review here – and the forthcoming Pacino-starring Manglehorn), after the director spent some time making stoner comedies with Joe‘s executive producer Danny McBride. It’s a return to critical acclaim for Cage, and a continuation of form for Green after Prince Avalanche. Sheridan (Mud, The Tree of Life) does well in arguably the trickier role. Gary is unable to escape from his abusive, alcoholic father, but is able to make a living working with Joe and his group of tree-fellers. He’s also capable of defending himself when threatened by a man with a grudge against Joe, but his father’s behaviour beats the family into submission, and the ties that bind them are too strong for Gary to leave. Sheridan communicates this plight well, a boy aged older than his years by his situation. The most impressive performance, however, belongs to Gary Poulter as Wade, Gary’s Dad. Poulter had one previous acting credit prior to this film, and struggled with alcoholism himself. The fact that he was found dead after filming had wrapped lends an extra level of tragedy to the character. Put simply, he’s one of the most rivetingly horrific depictions of what alcohol can do to a person ever put on screen. There’s rage and selfishness, loneliness underscoring it all, and finally a sheer and overwhelming brutality when it comes to what he’ll do to get himself a drink. It becomes fairly clear how things are going to unfold once Joe’s rage starts boiling over. Possibly the pace doesn’t help here, giving the viewer plenty of time to establish how the story’s going to go. Despite this, it’s an effective and moving ending, largely due to the conviction of the performances and the score (by Jeff McIlwain and David Wingo). Green’s pacing may make the ending easy to guess, but it reaps dividends when it comes to raising tension. The slow burning dread of the inevitable is used twice to great effect. For all that this makes Joe sound unrelentingly grim, it really isn’t. There’s a balance of humour and horror, especially with Wade and Joe, where their anti-social tendencies are exacerbated by taciturn wit, a humorous scene turning on its head very quickly. There are also some slower dynamics, bonding scenes where it feels like the cast have been let loose to improvise and sparks fly, but in the next scene we’re back to glowering in the half-light. Joe is out on July 25 in the UK. Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.