Review of Down Terrace (2010) by Lee M — 17 Jan 2011

Any low-budget crime/comedy/dysfuntional family drama that kicks off with a song from Bob and Ron Copper is always going to score points for me. Thankfully there's a lot more to offer in what's essentially an impressively acted kitchen sink drama which wouldn't feel out of place on the stage.

The handheld camerawork gives this kind of thing the energy and immediacy that it needs to overcome its budget limitations, and that doesn't stop it looking nice when it needs to, particularly towards the conclusion.

But the real skill is in the way Wheatley manages to create the feeling of of a populated, breathing criminal underworld of some scope while barely ever leaving the titular terraced house. Great little film.