ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

IT HAS BEEN a very good year for British cinema. The list of notable productions runs the gamut from Scottish drama ‘Red Road’ to James Bond blockbuster ‘Casino Royale’.

The gritty thriller ‘London To Brighton’ is one of the most accomplished debut features of the past twelve months, establishing writer/director Paul Andrew Williams as a hugely promising new talent.

Made on a modest budget, ‘London To Brighton’ is an extremely accomplished piece of work that grabs you by the throat from the opening moments and never lets go.

It manages to combine the social-realist concerns of a Ken Loach with the hardboiled urban attitudes of a British classic like ‘Get Carter’.

The story begins in the dark hours of the night. A woman and a young girl burst into a public toilet. They are both clearly frightened for their lives. Kelly (Lorraine Stanley) is badly beaten around the face. Joanne (Georgia Groome) is barely more than a child.

It is immediately evident that something awful has happened. Even as they prepare to catch a train and flee to Brighton it is equally evident that the consequences may follow them to the grave.

Spare and tightly controlled, the film balances forward momentum with revealing flashbacks. Even though we can second guess the ending, it doesn’t spoil the film, because this is more about the bond that develops between the two women rather than resolution of their horrific ordeal.

The performances are uniformly excellent, with special praise for the chilling understatement of Sam Spruell as a gangster, and Lorraine Stanley, who captures all the fire and poignancy in Kelly. If you like a thriller with a bit of grit and a big heart then this is thoroughly recommended.

Selected nationwide release

Director: Paul Andrew Williams
Stars: Lorraine Stanley, Johnny Harris, Sam Spruell, Nathan Constance, Alexander Morton, Georgia Groome
Screenwriter: Paul Andrew Williams
Certificate: 18
Running time: 86 mins
Country: UK
Year: 2006

© Allan Hunter, 2006