Review of Bonded by Blood (2010) by Russell R — 04 Sep 2010

Let me first start of by saying I have been interested in the 90s essex boys shootings since the ROTFS movie and have read a few books including Essex boys, Bonded by blood by the author bernard o mahoney and Bloogs19 which is all about darren niccolls turning supergrass.Thinking I would have a good head start and enjoy this film I decided to travel 67 miles down to castleford,west yorkshire to view the movie as it wasnt showing at any theatres in the north east of england.(i now know why).

As soon as the movie opens you feel confused with what its trying to do, there is no real storyline, it fails to follow any lead charachters consistantly. I found it confusing that Neil maskell who plays ( Darren nichols ) in Rise of the Foot soldier plays Craig rolfe and the asian actor Adam deacon (Adulthood) plays Darren niccols,which I thought was a strange choice of the director. The film continues to show people snorting drugs,scene after scene,and is totally over done. There is one scene where Pat tate is driving with a girl in the car that reminded me of a scene out of the Catherine Tate show. What I couldn't work out was there was so many decent actors who have showed serious talent in other work but never showed any in this movie. The film never seemed to flow, the actors never seemed relaxed in their parts or roles and this film was truly disappointing, apart from some good camerawork this movie never had anything good I could mention. If I could say one thing to the makers of this film it would be simply,WHY??.

Another embarrassing corny british gangster film that should be avoided at all costs, at the end of the day if people pay to see this quality of movie other directors will think it is ok to continue making more of the same, and it really just isn't good enough.

Steve swan,Middlesbrough.