Pleasure Island ***½ (2014, Ian Sharp, Gina Bramhill, Rick Warden, Nicholas Day, Samuel Anderson, Conner Chapman) – Movie Review

Quietly impressive sounds an odd judgement on a gun, hammer and knife strewn Northern England gangland crime thriller from writer-director Mike Doxford in his second feature. But here it is, Pleasure Island.

It starts slow, ruminative, atmospheric and talky, then builds, and tension kicks in with the story about half way, as it shifts gear again for an explosive, satisfying climax. Taking the long, scenic route is bold and brave, and not generally recommended, but here it works.

Ian Sharp stars as Dean, giving a dangerously quiet and smouldering, internal performance that exactly mirrors the movie, as he explodes into rage and action in the film’s latter stages. He returns to his home town of Grimsby after years abroad in the British Army, meeting animosity from his pigeon racer father Tony (Nicholas Day) when he asks to be put up for a few days.

Dean meets up with childhood friend Jess (Gina Bramhill), now a single mother after death of her husband, and working in a seedy sex club run by an unpleasant piece of work called Connor (Rick Warden). He, in turn, is working for an even nastier called Miles (Michael J Jackson). Dean only has an old mate Nate (Samuel Anderson), who’s running the local slot-machines arcade, on his side. Conner Chapman (The Selfish Giant) plays a wild kid at the arcade.

Dean plans to help Jess, and make sure she and her kid are safe. But things are going to get an awful lot worse before they get any better, as he manages to start a gang war involving seeming most everyone in Grimsby. This movie really puts the grim in Grimsby (Lincolnshire), as you’d expect. But somehow it’s not a depressing film just as dark and harsh one, like the underworld it pictures.

Bramhill is excellent, convincing in a difficult role, ditto Nicholas Day, and the two actors with the villain roles are nice and nasty – in their roles, that is, I’m sure they’re just very nice in their real lives. Do actors have real lives? I’m not sure.

This week, they managed to make Captain Webb for £400,000, but this one cost quite a bit more at $1,160,000, reflecting higher production values that take in three cinematographers, helicopter shots, hairdressers, some CGI, special makeup and an armourer. So good. The film marks the second feature for Achilles Entertainments, set up by Ian Sharp and Rebecca Joerin-Sharp. Now there’s a deal with Metrodome for its release, Achilles should get their money back. They deserve to.

Doxford says: ‘I was drawn to the setting. It’s a region rarely explored on camera, rich with stories and fascinating people. The film found its voice by shooting on location, amidst the local culture and starkly beautiful scenery.’ He’s right, and that’s all on screen.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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