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Published: 05 August 2010
by DAN CARRIER

IN the movie world, a gangster is portrayed as a different species to the rest of us. 

If they are American, they are all like Italian versions of the Kennedy clan, and if they are British, they are essentially all good lads like Charlie Croker whose number one concern is acting honourable. Piffle and poppycock: the main aim of a proper gangster is to enjoy their ill-gotten gains without being caught, and not caring who gets in the way.

So what a breath of fresh air it is to watch a film about a criminal family in a right old jam whose behaviour could be dubbed criminally insane. This superb indie offering, set in a small terraced house in Brighton, boasts superb acting, believable and punchy dialogue, and plot twists that keep you on your toes. Down Terrace is without doubt the highlight of this summer’s box office.

The story starts with the viewer being introduced to a son and father, making their way back from court in central Brighton. They have both been in prison before, but this time the son, Karl, has got off the charges. Now they want to know who in their closely knit criminal fraternity grassed them up. As friends come by to welcome them home, their eyes narrow and they wonder.

The story unravels at a fair lick, with twists and turns provided by the essentially deadpan nature of the portrayal of definitely not run-of-the-mill events. It is violent, but not in a way that makes the actions a scene in themselves. This is not about big-time baddies – rather the grotty world of a criminal underclass who will stop at nothing to have things how they want them. 

For such a grim story, there is plenty of humour. Like a cross between Goodfellas and The Royle Family, scenes flit by focussing on the domestic situation of the family. Director Ben Wheatley seems to have thought, “what exactly happens in the day in the life of a criminal?”, and then realised they too like cups of teas and talk about re-decorating their sitting room, as well as plotting robberies, drug dealing and murder. 

Simply superb.