Review of Attack the Block (2011) by Brett H — 30 Nov 2014

An absolute blast from start to finish with some of the coolest and most endearing young characters I've seen and the film is just too awesome for words! The cast of youths are all fantastic being unknowns at the time and John Boyega as Moses and Alex Esmail as Pest are the true highlights.

The alien invasion has been done many times, but centering it on inner-city, hoodlums who won't back down from a fight is truly unique, and the claustrophobic setting works wonders! The aliens themselves are beautifully realized with practical effects and a little help from CGI to portray their horrifying blue eyes and mouths; always works better than full-on computer creations.

For a first-time director, this is one hell of an achievement and the social commentary sprinkled throughout does not come off as preachy, but earned through the characters' eyes. It's also surprisingly violent, and when someone is killed it is bloody and swift.

I love, love, LOVE this movie and the awesome soundtrack, memorable characters, impressive effects, and hilarious dialogue make it a one of a kind!