Review of Dead Man's Shoes (2004) by Jacob O — 30 Apr 2011

Dead Man's Shoes is a grim yet unforgettable twist on the conventional revenge story set in Derbyshire, England. It stars Paddy Considine, in probably his best performance, as a disaffected soldier who returns home to seek revenge on the thugs who brutalised his mentally challenged brother. Wielding an assortment of weapons as well as a truly terrifying gas mask the soldier won't stop until every member of the savage gang are dead.

Sounds mindless, but it isn't. Dead Man's Shoes is full of substance and rich characterisations - we have the simple-minded brother of the soldier (Toby Kebbell, who defies stereotypes by playing his role with a lot of subtlety) to the only remorseful member of the gang (Paul Hurstfield). Its extreme violence and thematic material is bound to put off many, but there's a strange beauty to it all, with its sweeping helicopter shots of the Midlands and uncompromising cinematography. Flawed, but definitely worth a look for what it achieves with its low budget.