Patrick Gamble CineVue Jan 5, 2019 3/5

Whilst admittedly showcasing a powerhouse performance by Cardellini, Return sadly fails to convey its heart-rending story

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Neely Swanson Easy Reader (California) Sep 18, 2017

As a first feature, this is a great start.

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Richard Haridy Quickflix Nov 25, 2013 3/5

Return is a commendable, genuine, and simple drama that effectively highlights the intrinsic trauma soldiers face when trying to come to terms with the reality of life back home.

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Stanley Kauffmann The New Republic Jun 19, 2013

The writer-director is Liza Johnson, an artist, making her first picture and doing it with considerable grace.

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Angie Errigo Empire Magazine Apr 29, 2012 3/5

Skipping the usual flashbacks-and-cold-sweats cliches, Return has an understated power, even if the story traverses pretty well-trodden ground.

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Philip French Observer (UK) Apr 7, 2012

This is a quiet, honourable, carefully paced little independent movie, like a Sundance Institute coda to The Deer Hunter.

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Phil Hoad Guardian Apr 5, 2012 3/5

Cardellini holds the restless centre of Liza Johnson's patient, precise drama, which brims with quiet disaffection.

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Tim Robey Daily Telegraph (UK) Apr 5, 2012 4/5

A debut of sober distinction, carried by the seriously good Linda Cardellini as a US Army supply worker whose readjustment to Rust Belt domesticity is touch and go.

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Clare Conway Little White Lies Apr 5, 2012 2/5

As hounourable as its intentions are, the feeling of been there, done that pervades.

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David Parkinson Radio Times Apr 5, 2012 3/5

Johnson's narrative control is as assured as her visual sense. She skilfully captures the dead-end decency that compounds the servicewoman's mix of trauma and frustration.

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Nigel Andrews Financial Times Apr 4, 2012 3/5

Michael Shannon steals the film - when does he not? - as the loving, frustrated husband whose fuse is burning short.

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Tim Evans Sky Cinema Apr 4, 2012 3/5

There's no glib emotional grandstanding with the cast - particularly the excellent Cardellini - unshowily inhabiting their roles and underlining the assertion that it really could happen to anybody.

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Matthew Turner ViewLondon Apr 4, 2012 4/5

Impressively directed, sharply observed and emotionally engaging drama with a terrific central performance from Linda Cardellini.

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Paul Gallagher The List Apr 3, 2012 3/5

It's a focused, unshowy character study, light on fireworks but full of authentic drama and featuring an impressive lead performance from former ER actress Linda Cardellini.

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James Mottram Total Film Mar 26, 2012 3/5

This is Cardellini's film, and she dominates with a terrific, tough-minded turn.

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Brent Simon Shockya.com Mar 23, 2012 B+

A striking, humane, low-fi coming-home drama whose very title has a relaxed connotation that the movie robustly embodies.

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Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Mar 16, 2012 B-

It's a well-made but grim psychological melodrama.

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Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Mar 3, 2012 B+

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Michael Nordine Not Coming to a Theater Near You Feb 29, 2012

Unique for how normal it is, and laudable for its humbleness.

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