Review of Down Terrace (2010) by Stuart K — 05 Aug 2013

The directorial debut of Ben Wheatley (Kill List (2011), Sightseers (2012) and A Field In England (2013)), this crime drama was filmed in 8 days, on the hoof. Wheatley decided if what they filmed didn't come together in the editing suite, it would be shelved forever, but thankfully it did.

This is not just "another British crime drama", this one is bouyed by colourful performances throughout. Set in Brighton, Bill (Robert Hill) and his son Karl (Robin Hill) have just been released from prison for a crime we never know about, but they come home to Down Terrace, where with wife Maggie (Julia Deakin), Bill decides to find out who in his criminal organisation set him up, causing him and his son to get sent to jail.

There's always people in Bill's empire coming in and out of the house on Down Terrace, and Bill deducts it has to have been one of them. Including Eric (David Schaal), Garvey (Tony Way) and Pringle (Michael Smiley).

Meanwhile, Karl is struggling to return to a normal life, and he discovers his girlfriend Valda (Kerry Peacock) is pregnant. It's a very moving film despite it's dark overtones, but there is a dark sense of humour about it's body, especially when it comes to the family trying to being civil when they have guests round for tea.

But, this was enough to put Wheatley on the map as a director, and he's well on the way to success now.