Review of Filth (2013) by Midlands M — 24 Oct 2013

James McAvoy stars as Bruce Robertson, an abusive and manipulative Scottish detective who bullies and taunts his fellow officers in a bid to win a promotion against his colleagues in this adaptation of Irvine Welsh's novel.

First up, the film is very funny but definitely not for the faint hearted as the drug use, sexual exploits and violence are fired at the audience in quick succession but the film is done with so much fun that it's difficult to take anything too seriously and I ended up siding with Robertson at the end as his "games" come to a unexpected conclusion.

Disturbing and dark, the director uses music, quick edits, voiceovers and cutaway gags to explore the intricacies of Welsh's novel and, apologies for the crude comparison, it reminded me most of the freshness and frankness of Trainspotting which covered similar serious subjects with humour and wit.

Filth also uses a myriad of dream sequences, flights of fancy and even animation - all juxtaposed against the murky subject matter - to explain the protagonist's psychotic descent. Eddie Marsden is brilliant as McAvoy's only friend from his Masonic lodge, Clifford Blades, whilst Jamie Bell plays a great naive young detective and Jim Broadbent (who has been in endless films this year) hams it up as Dr Rossi in psychedelic couch sequences.

Humorous and horrific in equal measure, McAvoy shows what a great actor he is and the peculiar style only supports the story-telling in this unexpected triumph from the up and coming director Baird. 8/10 Midlands Movies Mike.