A Violent Man – Thought Provoking Thriller
Director: Ross McCall
Writer: Ross McCall (Screenplay)
Starring: Craig Fairbrass, Stephen Odubola, Jason Flemyng, Ross McCall, Ulrich Thomsen, Zoe Tapper, Robin Laing
Plot: Steve Mackleson is a dangerous prisoner, incarcerated for double murder in a maximum security prison. We follow, as he navigates his struggle against redemption the system and his inner turmoil, when a young black gang member becomes his unlikely new cell mate and a daughter he has never met, finally requests to meet her estranged father. Face to face.
Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: A Violent Man starts when dangerous prisoner Steve Mackelson (Fairbrass) gets a new cellmate in young gang member Marcus Wainwright (Odubola), Steve offers to give Marcus the advice to survive the prison environment, something he does take on.
As Marcus position in his gang forces him into trouble, Steve takes him under his wing protecting him from the different gangs within the walls, while getting the chance to meet his daughter for the first time since he ended up in prison.
Thoughts on A Violent Man
Characters & Performances – Steve Mackelson is the violent criminal, living with the consequences of the crime he committed, feared within the prison walls, where the higher up criminals come to him with respect. Steve is getting a chance to see his daughter for the first time in years, since the crime he committed, but he isn’t sure it would be a good idea, while he is offering advice to a young gangster stuck in prison, without any friends to back him up. Craig Fairbrass handles the violent side of the film with ease, where he is always an intimidating figure, but we will see the serious side of his performance here too, where he will show a different side to his acting level. Marcus is the young gang member thrown in prison, forced to continue his operating in the prison walls, put in a cell with Steve, who sees a lot of his younger self about him. Marcus is left unprotected in prison, until Steve comes along, offering to give him the advice to survive. Stephen Odubola is great in the supporting role, showing the fear his character hides beneath. When it comes to the supporting cast, we meet the different people that want to deal with Steve or are out to get Marcus, most of these characters offer the decision that Steve will need to make for his own future.
Story – A Violent Man will see us meet the seasoned prisoner that is respected by the fellow inmates, take a new young prisoner under his wing to teach him how to survive the walls, while dealing with the fact he will need to face his daughter for the first time since he committed the crime. This is a very different look at the prison life, showing the violent side of needing to survive, while keeping the story circled around the regret of the actions and fear of doing it again, along with a mentoring story that will offer the importance to pass on how to survive the prison walls. It will show people from different backgrounds needing to work together, teaching each other how to get on to the right path in life, instead of making the same mistakes again.
Themes – A Violent Man is a thriller that will give us a reflective look at life from the violent prisoner, one that will show that people can be broken after committing crimes, not knowing why they can’t control themselves. The film will keep the locations simple, the prison cell is used for nearly ever scene, showing an even more tight compact environment that Steve finds himself living in, putting the bigger spotlight on the fact you would never want to go to prison.
Final Thoughts – A Violent Man is a thriller with plenty to think about, highlight the problems criminals have caused and faced.
