Film: SHANK

Shank (2010)

Director: Mo Ali

Starring: Adam Deacon, Kaya Scodelario, Ashley ‘Bashy’ Thomas and Kedar Williams-Stirling

General release: 26th March 2010

From the title you could be wrongly deceived into believing that Shank is merely a movie about youths killing each other with knives. Although there is an undertone of this contained within the movie it ingeniously demonstrates a battle of the survival of the fittest in a third world London without being overly violent and monotonous.

Shank is based in London in 2015; the streets are no longer how we knew them and the gap between rich and poor is colossal. Everything is controlled by gangs, in particular food, which becomes the most sought after commodity. The gang’s struggle to control the trafficking of these provisions winds up in debauchery on the streets. For a first attempt at directing a feature film, 27 year old Mo Ali has done an excellent job in creating a fresh take on a story that has been told a fair few times throughout British cinema. The movie conveys a serious anti knife crime message which is presented to the audience in a futuristic/fantasy type of fashion with similar elements to that of Walter Hill’s 1979 gangland epic The Warriors..

Junior (Kedar Williams-Stirling) is a young boy growing up in London 2015, forced into a life of constant hustle as he and his older brother Rager (Ashley ‘Bashy’ Thomas) form a non violent gang, The Paper Chasers. The group roam the streets in search of decent food that they can in turn sell on to the civilians and market traders for a wholesome profit. The non violence amongst the gang is soon disturbed when they come head to head with another crew, Tugz and the Souljahs. It is here where the storyline thickens and really takes off and the audience are thrown into a fantasy world consisting of manhunt and retribution.

Shank which also stars Kaya Scodelario (Skins) and Adam Deacon (Kidulthood, Dead Set) provides the audience with an innovative look at London. The story is very straightforward with a simple plot, however, you’ll be engrossed by the cinematography and the editing is distinguished with moments of animation and cleverly thought out arrangements. Shank offers more than just a heavily violent, sex fuelled British film, like so many other British films aimed at young people.

Mo Ali and The Revolver Group have pulled out all the stops in providing the audience with a movie that offers moments of humour as well as melancholy. Although there are a few scenes where you anticipate more of a build up, the effortlessness of transforming a realistic set into a fantasy world alongside a talented and well suited cast will keep you intrigued. It’s a satisfactory, easy watch that will engage you with its visual stimulation and bravura soundtrack.

Words by Dannique Blake

Photography by Peter Tweedie