With its brooding atmosphere and a charismatic Craig Fairbrass, this hard-edged drama is a cut above the genre’s usual suspects
If you were just judging this film by its cast (a mix of EastEnders and Casualty alumni and barely knowns, with Craig Fairbrass in the lead), its cheesy marketing materials, and the barebones pitch (ex-con tries to go straight but is dragged down by his shiftless brother), hopes would not be high for this
British crime thriller. Indeed, with its downbeat narrative trajectory, substantial helpings of violence, and high frequency use of the naughtiest of swearwords, this certainly feels like another outer-borough-set wodge of slicey-dicey post-pub entertainment.
But sometimes a seemingly unprepossessing genre film comes along that has finer qualities than you would expect. Such is the case here. Directed by former actor Philip Barantini and written by Greg Hall and George Russo (who also co-stars as the seedy brother), this has refined touches throughout, starting with the slightly distorted sound design and brooding, unsettling score by Aaron May and David Ridley.