Rent Dead Man's Shoes (2004)

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the countrycide... - Dead Man's Shoes review by CP Customer

I ordered Dead Man's Shoes with apprehension, although I hold a lot of faith in home-grown horror, there's always the chance that it's going to be a case of gore over plot.

Thank goodness, then, that Dead Man's Shoes delivers heavily with the plot - more than a simple revenge plot, Richard's struggle to come to terms with what has happened to his brother (Anthony) is voiced perfectly in the juxtaposed scenes of rural tranquility and surreal, nerve-shredding terror. What's more, it isn't a jump-based horror, the cinematography never sets us up for a scare, but instead leaves us feeling oddly detatched from the carnage.

If you want blood and guts, go elsewhere, if you want sudden jolts, keep looking. But it you want an intelligent, heartfelt and compelling film that'll also leave you sleeping with the lights on, look no further.

Sit back, relax and lock the door.

Psychological Thriller. - Dead Man's Shoes review by Steve

High Plains Drifter set in the Peak District, with Paddy Considine (who co wrote with Meadows) seeking those responsible for the death of his brother. Not just a suspenseful revenge drama, but Meadows again creates a real environment, whether the enervating poverty of his small town, or the feeble lives of his criminal gang.

British Revenge Thriller - Excellent - Dead Man's Shoes review by GI

A stupendous revenge thriller by British director Shane Meadows. Cleverly nuanced with a real emotional impact this is a film I highly recommend as it goes far beyond a standard revenge narrative and it captures a very realistic vision of a rundown Midlands housing estate and the sort of petty criminal characters that inhabit them. Paddy Considine plays Richard, a disaffected soldier, who returns to the dilapidated Derbyshire housing estate of his youth to seek out the gang of petty drug dealers that abused and assaulted his younger brother Anthony (Toby Kebbell), who has learning disabilities. The gang is led by the nasty bully Sonny (Gary Stretch), who runs his drug dealing business with the aid of a small group of drug runners. They quickly realise they are in serious jeopardy as Richard begins a campaign to humiliate, threaten and terrorise them. The film harbours a major plot twist, and even if you know what it is the film remains a powerful and heart wrenching story that is worth revisit if you've only seen it once before. Considine is excellent as the borderline out-of-control avenger who stalks the streets and fields of the area in search of his prey but it's Kebbell as Anthony who is the most memorable and his performance may leave a tear in your eye. This is a dark, gripping and tense thriller set in the heart of middle England, a film that leaves an impression.