Scottish drama, set in 1994, in which two teenage friends whose lives are taking different paths share one last experience of their love of rave culture.
Despite a rocky start, Beats manages to evolve into something much greater than just another ‘party movie’, but still has a killer soundtrack to boot, and might possibly have introduced Scotland to a few future stars.
Anyone nostalgic for glow-sticks and whistles will find the euphoric climax leaving them begging for one more tune.
It’s really when Welsh transforms the final act into an extended abstract rave sequence – replete with the movie’s only flashes of colour – that the film fully comes into its own, transcending the familiar elements of the genre to capture the ephemeral nature of this scene in all its blissed-out, impossible-to-sustain glory.
Coming on like Shane Meadows at 140BPM, Beats is a truly heartfelt rites-of-passage tale — an immersive, intoxicating portrayal of the rave scene at its peak.
Beginning in kitchen-sink territory on a Scottish estate, this teen bromance eventually escapes into amiable nostalgia and artful euphoria.
A vibrant American Graffiti for Britain’s ’90s rave scene.
Two teenagers find their friendship tested in Brian Welsh’s terrific evocation of 90s Britain.
Kieran Hurley--Beats the Movie
Brian Welsh on Beats
Beats, rhymes and strife: how ravers raised the roof on mass protest.
Beats: Behind the scenes of the riotous Glaswegian film's 1,500-strong warehouse rave.
General release. Check local listings for show times.