County Lines **** (2019, Conrad Khan, Harris Dickinson, Ashley Madekwe, Marcus Rutherford) – Movie Review

Conrad Khan gives a startling, uber-confident turn as troubled 14-year-old London schoolboy Tyler, who becomes a drug courier for creepy older criminal Simon (Harris Dickinson), in writer-director Henry Blake’s equally confident and powerful feature debut County Lines (2019).

Both the main performance and the film are pitch perfect, as well as very disturbing. With something to say, but alas no solutions of course, County Lines is rewarding but far from an easy watch. London, the real one the tourists never see, appears as a hell hole. It brings to minds lyrics from Sweeney Todd. ‘There’s a hole in the world like a great black pit, and the vermin of the world inhabit it, and its name is London.’ It is easy to get depressed while watching County Lines.

Ashley Madekwe plays his bewildered single mum Toni, who is struggling to look after him and his younger sister. The actors are all good, with convincing dialogue to speak, sometimes under extreme circumstances. It’s just a shame Dickinson doesn’t have more to do. His character is a very interesting one, and Dickinson deserves more screen time. So instead it is all focused on Conrad Khan, and he is definitely up for the challenge.

Sverre Sørdal’s stylish noir-style cinematography is an eye-opener, never going for the obvious shot, keeping it fresh and real. James Pickering’s score is harsh and painful, as it was probably meant to be, but it is hard to listen to, especially at length over the end credits.

In 2017 New Zealand-born, London-based Blake made a short film of the same material.

County Lines describes using children to traffic drugs from cities to coastal towns and rural areas. Blake’s script is inspired by stories he heard mentoring an East London pupil referral unit.

County Lines premiered at the London Film Festival on 8 October 2019.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Movie Review

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Conrad Khan plays troubled London schoolboy Tyler in County Lines.