Attack the Block - Film Review

This film is now on Amazon Prime (in the UK) and I had heard about it when it was first made, but never really thought about watching it.

It was pointed out that the main actor (John Boyega) in Attack the Block is going to be in the new Star Wars, so I thought now is the time to watch it and see if the good things I had heard were really true.

The film is written and directed by Joe Cornish who I had known in the 90's for his alternative comedy as part of the Adam and Joe show. It was a great TV show, but definitely of its time.

Looking at his history now and before Attack the Block, he had only done TV and since then, he has not worked on all that much, writing credits for The Adventures of Tintin and Ant-man (4 year gap between the two) are all he appears to have done. This for me is a shame!

I liked Tintin (but haven't seen Ant-man) however I loved Attack the Block.

This is a very good thriller/horror monster movie. It takes a very British sense of humour and film making and looks at the classic troupes for a monster movie and uses them perfectly to create a tense thriller.

The main protagonists are set up to be unlikable characters, who victimise a young lady in the first few minutes of the film. Their paths cross again and go along way to create more conflict but offer both parties a chance at redemption.

The film takes the traditional cliche of characters and uses them to its full advantage, giving the characters a chance to actually feel more real than most major film releases. Listening to interviews of the cast on Youtube afterwards, the kids sound very similar to the characters they play with their accents and speech patterns (not quite as emphasised, but still there) However the leading lady appears quite posh and very English when in actuality the actress Jodie Whittaker is as Yorkshire as you like.

The tension through the whole film is fantastic and takes you on a very claustrophobic journey through the council estate in London, as the characters try to defend and escape the incoming invasion.

Joe Cornish has said in many interviews how he wanted the alien effects to be practical and not just CGI, and they are (although they are enhanced afterwards) the actors talk about being chased by the physical alien (a man in a costume) and getting scared. It does feel a little like a UK version of Aliens. The fact the sets and monsters appear touchable and real gives the film a genuine tension rather than thinking oh this is all just green screen effects.

The characters fight more than just the aliens with other smaller parts playing to cause the lead roles trouble. It is a well thought out and well crafted film.

For fans of the horror/thriller/alien genre films this is a must watch. It is not too long, and keeps the suspense going from start to finish as the film does not get bloated with unnecessary plot devices. Everything that is there is there for a reason and a well thought out one too. Even the IMDB strap line is short and sweet "A teen gang in South London defend their block from an alien invasion."

If you have not seen this film yet, watch it now. You will not regret it. It is funny, slick, tense and just a great 90 minute film that keeps you entertained from the moment you start till the moment the credits roll.