About a teen gang in South London defending their block from an alien invasion.
A very accomplished sci-fi horror, and a properly exciting one at that.
However much goodwill you chuck at it, this isn’t quite the instant cult classic you want it to be. But now and then it’s as blinding as those alien gnashers.
Blending laughs, thrills and sci-fi chills with aplomb, Cornish’s debut is nothing less than - yes! - the new Shaun Of The Dead. Believe, bruv.
Attack The Block is a modest gem of tight plotting, rascally attitude and gung-ho action.
It’s this collision of the familiar urban milieu with a malevolent brood of extraterrestrials with onyx fur and razor sharp fluorescent gnashers that brings the biggest laughs in comedian Joe Cornish’s first feature.
The film tries to do too much with too little.
Attack the Block draws on the classic science-fiction model such as Independence Day and the siege drama – Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 – but there's also something very innocent and English here, something reminiscent of the 1947 Ealing comedy Hue and Cry.
An odd confection: a genre mash-up marked by jarring tonal shifts.
There’s plenty to smile at, from Frost especially, but where Attack The Block exceeds expectations is the way it goes all out to entertain. An impressive debut from Cornish.
Fundamentally flawed by asking us to side with a group of thugs.
As Moses would say, "allow it", and you might just ignore its many flaws and enjoy the full-hearted spectacle.
Shame on everyone involved.
Balancing big laughs and big shocks, Attack the Block is a brilliant first film by anybody’s standards.
Entertaining close encounter.
Here [Cornish's] made a mainstream film that refuses to pander to audiences, but instead works hard to win them over. As the kids probably no longer say: respect.
Cornish runs out of fresh ideas too soon, and the film finally feels like a string of stand-alone moments that don't quite build up to anything larger.
The best British horror movie for some while.
A fresh and exhilarating entertainment.
Cornish pulls off his preposterous premise with flair.
'War of the Worlds' meets 'Skins' on London movie set
Meet the new kids on the block
Joe Cornish on how a mugging inspired Attack the Block
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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