Dave's a petty criminal living on drugs and violence in London. When his actions kill his best friend, he's propelled into feelings of shame and remorse. Discovering Islam, he begins to find peace but his old life comes back to test him.
Not just another gritty London crime drama, this is compelling and credible with a convincing star turn from Frederick Schmidt.
Hulme brings style and atmosphere to proceedings but seems all too willing to take refuge in the old familiar: dodgy drug dealers, menacing geezers and random acts of appalling violence.
This is an accomplished debut from Hulme, who is a film-making force to be reckoned with.
For all its strengths, the film never quite overcomes its hackneyed plot line, or the posturing gangster characters.
Unfortunately the elements that are fresh and intriguing are the very ones that receive the least attention.
A progressive reinvention of a tired genre.
The film seems happy to settle for rum characters and violent acts when it promised much more.
What begins as just another geezer-gangster Brit-pic mutates into something more unexpected in editor-turned-director/co-writer Andrew Hulme’s brooding feature debut.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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