Dead Man’s Shoes (2004)

Director: Shane Meadows

Writer: Paddy Considine, Shane Meadows (Screenplay)

Starring: Paddy Considine, Gary Stretch, Toby Kebbell, Stuart Wolfenden, Neil Bell, Paul Sadot, Seamus O’Neill, Jo Hartley

Plot: Richard returns home from military service to a small town in the Midlands. He has one thing on his mind: revenge. Payback for the local bullies who did some very bad things to his brother. At first his campaign employs guerrilla tactics, designed to frighten the men and put them ill at ease. But then he steps up his operation, and one by one these local tough guys are picked off by the terrifying angel of vengeance that Richard has become.

Verdict: Gritty Revenge Thriller

Story: The revenge film has been done plenty of times and we usually have an action that leads to someone getting revenge but we do see what that action is early on. This time we flash between Richard revenge and what happened to his brother. These are easy to tell apart unlike some films that just confuse with it. The revenge actions are mostly off camera leaving you to imagine what has happened add more intensity and the flashbacks to what happened work as each one leads to something more shocking right up to a twist you won’t see coming. (8/10)

Actor Review

Paddy Considine: Richard the former soldier who has returned to get revenge on the men responsible to putting his brother through a terrible ordeal. Paddy shines as the no nonsense man on a mission to get revenge. (9/10)

Gary Stretch: Sonny the leader of the gang who put the brother through the ordeal and local drug lord who along with his local mob try to deal with the problem in their own way. Good performance in the villainous role. (8/10)

Toby Kebbell: Anthony the simple brother who has been through the ordeal who follows his brother on his revenge mission. Good performance putting everything in the performance without overplaying it. (8/10)

Director Review: Shane Meadows – Great direction creating what looks like a violent revenge thriller that turns out to be a brilliant dramatically mind game revenge thriller. (9/10)

Drama: Looking at everyone’s reaction to what has happened mixed together with what is happening works really well here. (9/10)

Thriller: You really don’t know what will happen next to these characters. (9/10)

Settings: Gritty small midlands town setting works adding intensity to the story. (9/10)

Suggestion: Everyone who claims to be a fan of the thriller genre should really be watching this, small budget works for this too. (Thriller Fans Watch)

Best Part: The Twist

Worst Part: Being picky the basic support characters.

Funniest Scene: the mobs car.