Shank (2009) User Reviews

Promising but Ultimately Disappointing

[adam_world · 6/10 · 3 June 2009]

Shank tells the story of a closeted gang member Cal (Wayne Virgo) who is deeply in love with his best friend Jonno (Tom Bott). When Cal stops a senseless beating of college student Olivier (Marc Laurent), Jonno and his girlfriend Nessa (Alice Payne) seek retribution for what they perceive as Cal's betrayal. Their anger grows and tragic consequences ensue when they discover Cal's secret.

Shank is set in a world not usually explored in gay cinema and as a coming out story there is a lot to be admired here. Unfortunately certain aspects of this film never work and that should have been apparent to the film makers early on.

Virgo and Laurent are young, attractive and naked for most of the film but have no chemistry together. At times the audience roared with laughter at Laurent's soppy glances, terrible timing and absurd delivery. Despite what another reviewer has said, this did not "break the tension". These moments simply drew sharp attention to the amateurish mistakes made by the director and the problems with the script.

Marc Laurent's performance as Olivier was dreadful. He might be a passable actor in his native French, but he lacked the experience and talent to give a nuanced performance in English. He simply couldn't convey the necessary combination of vulnerability and strength that would make him desirable to Cal and the audience. I didn't believe that the street tough would go for someone like Olivier.

In contrast, the sexual tension between Cal and Jonno was electric. Tom Bott was completely believable as the sexy and dangerous Jonno. Bott's performance was flawless, subtly portraying a range of complex conflicting emotions.

Alice Payne turned in a promising performance as Nessa, and Wayne Virgo in the lead managed to hold the film together.

Near the end of the film a series of events occur that simply didn't seem plausible in the grander scope of the movie. We are asked to believe that a well-educated adult would act in a manner that contradicts common sense. His decisions are made doubly confusing with the final (contrived) revelation. There are no realistic consequences to the any of the character's actions. We are also subjected to some heavy handed imagery and a few film school clichés.

If you're into queer cinema you will likely find something to enjoy in this first effort from director Simon Pearce. However, I think most audiences, gay or straight, won't find the movie nearly as compelling as it should have been.

Not without faults but graphic and powerful

[preppy-3 · 7/10 · 30 April 2010]

This takes place in Bristol in the UK. Cal (Wayne Virgo) is part of a gang who go out and casually beat up people for no reason. Cal is also gay. He can't tell his gang and has anonymous degrading sex and tries to hide his feelings in drugs. Then one day his gang attack an innocent French student named Olivier (Marc Laurent). Cal intervenes and saves Olivier because he falls in love with him at first sight. They become lovers and the members of Cal's gang swear they will get back at him.

SPOILERS! OK--there are plenty of problems here. Laurent is a dreadful actor and has NO chemistry with Virgo at all. Their relationship never rings true. The HEAVY British accents make most of the dialogue unintelligible. The rap music is very annoying. There's a twist near the climax involving Nessa (Alice Payne) that I didn't believe for a minute. And the rape scene at the end was too graphic and far too disturbing. However the plot is good and interesting. Virgo has a difficult role but pulls it off. Also he's a very handsome man and there's plenty of nude shots of him (front and back). The sex scene between Cal and Olivier is explicit but very erotic and hot! There's also plenty of simulated gay sex scenes and frequent male nudity. Also Tom Bott is excellent as Cal's best friend Junno. The sexual tension between those two was incredible. I wish the movie had been about them being lovers! Also their acting during the rape scene at the end was just superb.

All in all its not without its faults but it does work. Graphic and powerful. I give it a 7.

Gritty and Stark Drama

[adamshl · 6/10 · 2 February 2010]

Director Pearce obviously threw himself into this work with all the enthusiasm that a 21-year old can muster. The screenplay is hard-edged and tough, and the entire cast respond well to the director's instructions.

Wayne Virgo and Tom Bolt are particularly impressive; indeed, the entire cast works hard to bring this British indie off. For the most part they succeed in their individual contributions. In fact, it's almost impossible to distinguish the actor's own personalities from the characters they're playing.

Unfortnately, the film looses ground in the final "rumble" scene, which is carried on much too long. Whatever potential it originally had is lost in its prolonged enactment. Post-production editing was required here, and the heart of the drama was drained through over extension. In fact, the entire ending third of the film falters.

The cast cannot be faulted, though. All performances are believable and powerful. The same cannot entirely be said for the youthful director or writers. All in all, a fairly good film that doesn't pull its punches.

Eyeroll

[daveatatime · 16 September 2011]

*spoiler alert, (I guess, but who even cares)* There's too much wrong with this movie to bother naming all the lousy points. But here are a few.

Cal is uber-masculine, and we're lead to believe in the first part of the movie that he's attracted to other masculine guys. Yet we're tilting our heads in confusion when he is suddenly attracted to this flowery French guy whose wardrobe consists of mostly pink. Not believable.

Seemingly minutes after Cal gets all lovey-dovey with Frenchie Flowers and starts shacking up with him, Cal is not only able to have loving, passionate gay sex (whereas earlier it is shown that the only gay sex he could engage in was sometimes violent, always impersonal and anonymous, which would then make him throw up), but is also wearing Twinky McStereotype's pink clothes. Yeah, I don't think so. Not believable.

The coincidences of how everyone is interwoven and connected is so over-the-top, it'd be almost funny if it wasn't pathetic. The text message sent at the end is great; "Sorry -Cal." Which is to say this:"sorry that this all sucks and my boyfriend, who happens to be your student, who happens to have been beaten up by my gang who also beat up your boyfriend in a non-related incident while you and I also just happened to have hooked up randomly online once, after which I bashed you in the face. But we're going to get on a train together, all smiles, in our pink outfits and be on our merry way while you cry over your comatose lover." That sentence made as much sense as did this movie. Not believable.

And, really, I can forgive some goofy plot themes and unbelievability to a point. Because there are some watchable scenes, and some not-so-bad acting, even (NOT including Pepe Le Pew (Frenchie) - he was awkward and painful to watch 'act'). But it was the pre-wrap up confrontation scene which took this from the edge of ridiculous to a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me joke of a movie.

Jonno, the best friend from his "gang" (pfft, some gang, by the way), RAPES Cal. In front of the rest of the gang, even. While sobbing. Now, I'm not saying gay rape doesn't happen. I'm saying it doesn't happen LIKE THAT. No way in hell. Everyone's going on about how shocking this scene is. And it is, but only because it's SO OUT OF LEFT FIELD and ridiculously not believable.

A lot of this movie, as is the case with much of gay cinema, is used as an excuse to show cute young guys naked. And sure, some of them are totally adorable. But unless that's enough to keep your attention through some idiotic choices which made a movie with some potential really very bad, then you may want to skip this one.

The shank redemption

[sandover · 6/10 · 27 January 2010]

A teenage gang of three molests weak, effeminate looking passersby in some slightly dreary, somewhat hip looking (courtesy of perfunctory soundtrack) goth/abandoned industry area. The subplot is that in that kind of malfunctioning family/triangle, one member, Cal, is secretly gay and the other male one is repressing his tendency towards his mate; peppered with an obnoxious - yet fragile in the end - female lead who cannot face her dark secret, it all soon comes down to a violent confrontation; add an exchange french student to the mix, a student who is OK with his sexuality and there you have it. I mean it with some tender amazement, for this is I think the innovation the film offers; as if the grit-brit tradition of film-making meets the more insouciant french one via its representatives. It mixes somewhat awkwardly though; some emphasis on the gayness of the french student (esp. the lush scene of him and Cal by the pool, surrounded by candles, and sipping wine does not seem over the top - even though it is a small one, without words - thanks to the good effort of Wayne Virgo who communicates excitedness) seems incongruous, though this is not as much wounding as his really unconvincing acting at the final explosion. After that the film gets melodramatic. We were expecting that a bit, yes, but something is lost in the temperature of the message, social redemption through love. (It is an obviously small budget film, but that is OK, if not to its advantage.) Worth for a look just for the effort of his 21-year old director and the instinctively observed scene at the cemetery.

Getting tired of "daring" endings like this

[showtrmp · 7/10 · 16 March 2012]

A gripping if rather implausible story about a group of gay-bashing youths, this sustains interest until the ridiculous ending, when the director gathers up all the plot threads and, instead of weaving them together, ties them into a hopeless snarl. Not only does the last-minute plot revelation make no sense, it "explains" the characters in a very facile, film-school manner, when what makes the film frightening is the fact that we really CAN'T tell what motivates the young characters, and neither can they. They succumb to their worst violent/sexual urges without a second thought, because stopping to think would make their lives completely unbearable. This ending forces "meaning" on us in the way that second-rate well-made plays in the nineteenth century used to.

I'm growing very tired of gay movies that feature their young heroes being raped and/or killed by straight oppressors (who rape them to prove they themselves aren't gay?) It's a cheap way for an artistically impoverished movie to be considered "daring" and "honest", when it really reveals very little. I've always been suspicious of the argument that gay-bashers are all closeted homosexuals striking out at what they fear in themselves (this view also weakened the ending of the otherwise excellent "Milk.")

worth watching

[IanRusk · 6/10 · 12 January 2015]

Fairly intense boy-meets-boy, falls in love story, but with a twist. Gang member Cal (Wayne Virgo), a closeted gay, comes to the defense of innocent gay teen Olivier after Cal's gang begins beating him. Cal is ostracized from his gang, which includes his best friend Jonno. The upper class Olivier invites Cal to stay with him as Cal avoids threats of violence from his former gang, who discover Cal's hidden gay past. Sparks fly and a relationship forms, but will Cal's terrible past come back to haunt him? Fairly watchable film shot in England. I give this film a 6 of 10, fair to good and worth watching. Manages to form realistic characters. A lot of frontal nudity and graphic simulated sex scenes throughout. Graphic rape and harsh language. Some reviewers criticize the acting of the actor playing Olivier, but I found it realistic and believable. A film that stands enough on its own to warrant a watch. "

Shank Much?

[thesar-2 · 4/10 · 20 February 2010]

I did have reservations of lowering my rating down to 4/10 stars for Shank, because overall, it wasn't that bad of a movie, for a small, somewhat original independent gay themed movie.

How it mostly shot itself in the foot, was, though (again) somewhat original, it was thoroughly predictable, a bit unrealistic and contained the one of the most outrageous, out of left-field finale involving a rape (you'll know what I mean when your mouth is agape as was mine) and plot twists wrapped up that didn't either matter or there was simply no reason to tie up some stories.

The movie begins with a small gang of male thugs lead by a female in England beating up just an innocent man out walking for no more reason than their twisted sense of enjoyment all the while filming it on their phones, I'm guessing for either internet or trophies. The movie shifts focus to one of the gang members, Cal (Virgo) who branches out his gang-free time by picking up a stranger to have some coke and sex with in the woods. This stranger happens to be of the same sex.

Of course, he's closeted in his own gang, which probably is much like a KKK member who's black under his hood. He's also ashamed of this and doesn't want to get too involved in homosexuality. So, naturally (I'm joking, naturally only to this messed up kid) he pounds that male he banged in the woods pretty fierce, with one blow that leaves days of evidence. The victim happens to be a teacher, and that teacher happens to have gay student who inadvertently gets tortured in the same manner as the male in the opening shot. Only, this time, Cal rescues him.

Even though I have never has an associations with gangs or thugs, it's fairly obvious to know the aftermaths of him helping this beaten gay student on the road. Again, like a KKK member bringing an African American down from the cross during their sick rituals. I don't think that KKK member would be looked on too kindly by the other racists.

So you know where this is going, hence the predictability, as do you know Cal falls, finally, for another male. Though it doesn't begin that way: as Cal definitely likes Oliver, (Laurent) the gay-bashed citizen, he uses him to hide out from the revenge smitten ex-gang friends of his. Romance blossoms until the eventual climax (previously ridiculed by me earlier.) I do believe, in a lot of cases, opposites attract. These two, Cal and Oliver, couldn't be farther apart. Cal's a clean-cut, masculine, handsome, boyish looking, albeit gangster while Oliver would make Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes on Will & Grace) look like a straight Republican. I didn't really see any true love or affection of Cal's obsession with Oliver, other than a hideaway from his previous life or that the script called for it. All other examples displayed butch males he was attracted or desired.

I don't want to sound too harsh on this film. I liked the eye candy, the actors or director had no qualms about showing them naked or in hard-core sexual acts – I hate edits, and the fact this story stemmed from a closeted gang member, something we rarely see, if at all. It gets a slight recommendation from me for the original idea, but reservations for the bizarre closing and predictability. (Not to mention, the beatings, though intricate to the story line and character development, were hard to watch. Not the most brutal beatings, SEE: American History X, but, nevertheless, they're hard to view, probably mostly due to the motive behind them. I.E. there was none – these punks were just plain evil.)

Disturbingly Real..

[calshank1980 · 10/10 · 2 May 2010]

As a gay man I can understand why other gay men have found this film difficult to watch. It is disturbing.

It depicts a very real story that looks at a young gay gang member hiding from his fellow hoodlums his sexuality whilst engaging in dangerous and at time's very unsafe sexual practices without their knowledge.

Only a chance encounter (and subsequent love affair) with a victim of the gangs abusive streak arrests his spiral and descent into the hell of the ultimately bored undereducated unemployed subculture that does hang out on Britain's street corners intimidating all those who appear to have more to their lives than they do! This betrayal turns the tables and lives change - forever.

Whilst I agree that some of the acting is clunky and requiring more schooling - it is all very valiant in effort. I haven't marked the film down for this as the direction, script and editing and urban soundtrack (balanced with some lovely score) keep you hooked to the last. The first frame of the film is carried with you to the last reveal and this satisfies the viewer considerably.

This is a brave film, unique when set against the volume of gay films that are being released that have nothing new to say and tread well worn clichéd paths. I genuinely applaud it. It's unique interwoven story deserves at least a 9 out of 10 on its own.

It might not be comfortable viewing for many but it packs a punch that resonates for a long time afterwards - a mark of a good film. Quite rightly it reminds us that despite more liberal legislation of late gay life is still uncertain, insecure and gay men are still very vulnerable from fearful attitudes.

Plain, unrealistic and disastrous: Worst gay movie ever!

[tony_0106 · 1/10 · 3 September 2011]

I'm going to start by saying that this film is one of the best examples of "deceptive advertising" as it was sold as a "Skins meets Latter Days" and it ended up being a dull story about disrupted teenagers. The lack of originality was the main plate.

First of all that was not a gang by any means. It was simply a group of freaks vandalizing everything on sight and assaulting people just for fun. Gangs deal with drug trafficking, arms, robberies... You wanna watch a gang-related gay film try "Our Lady of the Assassins" that one does deal with the reality thousands of teenagers in gangs have to deal.

Anyways, moving onto the characters none of them make anything good to the film. Cal was a complete fraud: Somehow "attracted" to his friend Jonno yet they never engage in anything and that sudden attraction to Olivier made no sense at all. Why would he help him in the first place? Love at first sight? It was a very ridiculous move. Jonno's attraction to Cal was way too obvious. So obvious that it makes you thing he was the "closeted gay trying to come out". During the first 20 mins. I thought they would eventually end up together. About Olivier could he be any more queerer? and well Nessa I don't even want to talk about her.

However what made this film an unforgiven waste of time were those over-the-edge coincidences. Just look at this: Cal's boyfriend, Olivier, happened to be one of Scott's student. Scott hook up with the guy (Cal) who put his partner into comma while he was at the hospital. Oh what a coincidence! The filmmaker was trying to show his Gonzalez-Iñarritu's abilities but he failed big time.

I wish I could have rated this 0/10.

Cheers.

"Shank" is gritty and unapologetic...

[sammie-hartman · 9/10 · 31 August 2011]

Filmed in Bristol, England, UK on a non-existent budget of 20,000 euros (28,000 USD) with a cast made up almost entirely of first-timers to feature film, "Shank" is one of my all time favorites.

"Shank" is the story of teenaged "scallie" gang banger, Cal (Wayne Virgo), who is realizing his true desire for other men. In particular, his best friend and fellow gang member Jonno (Tom Bott) with whom he shares several very intimately awkward moments. His gang is known for filming the beatings that they frequently dish out to innocent bystanders. However, when the gang jumps an attractive young gay man, Olivier (Marc Laurant), Cal reaches his breaking point stopping the beating.

Having left his gang stranded to go and help the bloodied young man, Cal is now the target of their rage. Can these two young men from opposing worlds and different understandings of oneself survive all that is thrown their way? Directed by 21 year old Simon Pearce, "Shank" is a gritty and unapologetic look at a coming-out story that has never been seen before. Wayne Virgo is an extremely talented newcomer, who also happens to be a gorgeous young man with great attributes which are seen throughout out the movie.

"Shank" is violent and unsettling at times, sensual and compassionate at others, and has a well-balanced use of intimacy and nudity. All of which is necessary to truly tell this story of self-discovery and love. Most importantly it pulls you into the story from the moment it starts and holds you til the very end. Making you care for and feel for the characters, "Shank" is a perfect blend of every element that a good movie is made of.

With it's gripping script (written by Darren Flaxstone and Christian Martin), beyond-their-years-in-talent acting, and superb direction and cinematography, "Shank" is a low-budget film that can stand against any Hollywood powerhouse...

Just letting you know...

Exciting and challenging indie Brit flick...

[chris_broughton · 1/10 · 10 December 2009]

This film is awesome! Encompassing the fairly major subjects of homosexuality, Chav gangs in 21st century Britain, self love and finding one's place in the world, 'Shank' really packs a hard punch, just about pulling these hefty themes together, all in all a real credit to the sharp script, snappy editing / direction and raw but engaging performances from the exceptionally young Bristol based cast.

I found it great to see low budget British film-making still in existence with such energy, passion and verve, which is sadly so lacking in the majority of big budget releases, certainly when it comes to the tricky issue of sexuality, (usually it's the tired old coming of age/ coming out to the parents type of thing, or in the bigger budget releases, Julia Robert's best friend is a good as it gets.) This film takes the sexuality/ coming out / rites of passage story and actually tries to say something about the less than perfect society in which we all live, both good and bad, evident in the the highly charged scenes of sexual violence contrasted with the incredibly tender love scenes. It's the sort of the duality of humanity.

Sure, some of the performances and plot shifts are a little creaky, but it's the film's constant ability to shock, involve and surprise that ultimately win through. It's one of those rare films that stays with you for a long time after, not a bad thing in my book. There's some great DVD extras as well, including an informative making off and a pretty funny gag reel.

super stuff!!

British Gay Indie Offering

[cinemabon · 4/10 · 20 January 2010]

While Independent films are not my usual cup of tea, I have enjoyed many through the years ("Sex, lies, and videotape" etc). I do not expect high production values or good cutting. I try to keep an open mind and look for break out performances or decent writing. The plot of "Shank" is fair and has potential. The execution by Simon Pearce is less than desirable. His overuse of symbolism and rough cut edits between subplots is so erratic that it makes the film difficult to follow at times. One way to smudge a scene, if you haven't got a shot in editing, is to add a blurry, out of focus shot as filler. I found too many of those to stay in my comfort zone.

What did I find good about "Shank"? The dilemma of the gang person who is trying to find his own identity a good plot device. The subplot with the school teacher played a necessary role in the morality part of the story. However, when one actor carries such a heavy load as Wayne Virgo did for the part of Cal, then I believe you need to cast for more than just type. You must cast for talent. Marc Laurent did a good job as the French student and had a great sense of mise en scene. Another cast member that stood out was Tom Bott as Jonno. While his final scene was a bit much (director is responsible here), I thought he has great potential past this film.

Today, thanks to advances in technology, young gay people have a choice of film subjects and styles geared toward their orientation and subculture. "Shank" tries to be honest and address the concerns of many young gay men, although the execution needs a leg up... to use the vernacular.

Outstanding film

[callumconnor99 · 10/10 · 11 June 2012]

I am so glad I finally got around to watching this title. It is by far the most original film with a gay central character that I have seen in a long while and I have seen plenty. Usually I tend to migrate towards foreign language films exploring gay subjects because their cultural take on gay life is oftentimes quite specific and original.

I did not expect such originality from a British film and I can't understand how I missed it.

To the naysayers on here I despair - it takes a brave person to write so convincingly and powerfully on a subject not explored before. The depiction of personal hatred and societal hatred was palpable and real. The making of revealed the myriad sources from which the idea had been researched and the significance of this tour de force really hit home.

OK some of the acting is not quite on a par with more experience actors but the genuine grit and conviction in the performances made up for these excusable inadequacies.

10 out of 10 quite simply British at it's best.

I could go on but I realise I am gushing - but I have to try and counter so much negative nonsense on here. Buy it, don't rent it and don't steal it off an illegal site (like a certain person I know did) - these film makers deserve to get every penny for their effort in the vain hope they make something as good again....

Puke to the digital camera!

[freakymidnightshow · 4/10 · 14 September 2010]

Character tale about a Young boy who is sexually confused, more than all because of his homophobic friends. He falls in love with some guy leading to tragedy.

Sometimes effective, but the movie don't move more from some erotic scenes and some disgusting , really shocking scenes, that you can't denied are well staged by director Simon Pearce. And the actors are good, mostly for being so young and handled this kind of material.

The problem is that the movie gets in one point totally ridiculous, and boring. The logic of the film tries to work in a tragedy manner, but it goes to the extreme of the melodramatic, and the main character is too much distasteful to be interested in it. The erotic scenes are just laughable and the digital camera cliché's juts annoy.

I think Larry Clark is a better option to get a recognizable, graphic but sincere portrait of adolescence problems.

a gripping debut feature

[bernie-175 · 10/10 · 7 July 2009]

I was lucky enough to catch this movie in Bristol. At the L&G festival in Miami the director won the Roger Walker-Dack Award for Emerging Talent in Queer Cinema. From researching the film and hearing the writer/editor and producer in a Q&A afterwards the film takes on a completely different resonance of believability when we learned that the majority of the narrative had been woven from real life events that had taken place in the UK.

All the acting is first rate - with the French boy actually turning out to be French with a genuine accent to boot and not a faked or 'acted' accent. There's an astonishing vulnerability to the lead, a vicious vile portrayal by the female gang leader and some wonderful nuanced acting from the troubled Jonno. All the supporting cast give this film a depth that you wouldn't expect from a low budget independent film with such high production values.

This is a gritty, urban and energetic film that grabs you from frame one and drives you through so many twists and turns that you find your emotions rubbed raw one minute then soothed the next. The final showdown is brutal in it's treatment of pent-up unrequited love between two young men and the biblical aftermath moved many in our audience to tears. The ending provides hope from a dire situation.

Incredible raw camera work carousels you through the lives of these delinquent British youth whilst an urban 'great' soundtrack of hip-hop and rap is beautifully underscored by British composer Barnaby Taylor - whose piano and guitar punctuation at key moments helps bring the arc of the main character's story to an emotional high.

People responded in an animated and engaged way to the screening in Miami with outbursts of laughter at plot points that gave the audience an opportunity to release some of the tension from the scenes of violence. There was also a palpable enjoyment of the more tender and moving moments that never felt gratuitous or deliberate but balanced.

The Miami New Times says of the film "21yr old Director Simon Pearce has taken the bildungsroman, held it up against the wall and punched its face in."

I had to look the word up as well and it means - BILDUNGSROMAN - A novel whose principal subject is the moral, psychological, and intellectual development of a usually youthful main character.

I agree it did punch it in the face.

From the facebook page ( shank cal shank - profile name) for the film it's clear that I'm not alone in my cry of 'bravo' to these innovative and daring film makers - the coming-out genre has been declared dead and buried with this film and SHANK is the new dawn for gay cinema.

Lifting from the facebook page a Toronto audience member has commented:

""It was as close to a sell-out audience as you could get. The crowd seemed to really like it - great round of applause at the end and some laughs and gasps throughout as we reacted to certain scenes. Some great acting by a bunch of fresh talent, esp. Jonno and Cal. I hope it receives more acclaim around the globe. People need to see this - in the vein of Kids."

another audience member from Toronto on their Youtube page commented:

""I also saw the movie in Toronto, too... large audience..... very well received. Beautifully filmed. Great actors! I wondered how someone at 21 could have directed such a well made film. The script must have been well written, too. - I was impressed."

I note that Miami and Toronto are not the only festivals who are screening the film - it appears to be screening all over the world having launched in Melbourne in March - I recommend anyone who's at the 25+ festivals that are listed to go see it.

This all adds up to a 10/10 in my book.....a rarity - film makers for SHANK don't rest on your laurels make another one.....can't wait

Stereotyped

[donoso-57895 · 5/10 · 17 June 2020]

Good argument, showing violence against homosexuals. However the characters are stereotyped, the performances are amateurs and misdirected scenes

not brilliant

[sergius1970 · 1/10 · 6 March 2011]

This was so boring and predictable I couldn't get through it. Nor, dare I say it, was it very responsible(is the idea of film-makers being responsible so very shocking? Probably yes.)

90 minutes of young muscle-boys who beat people up to a groovy hip hop backing track is hardly going to dissuade impressionable youngsters. One is reminded of the Heroin Screws You Up campaign of the early 80s which actually managed to increase drug consumption by presenting dope-takers in all too glamorous a light.

And why bother with such a predictable storyline anyway? All the the makers of this sort of poverty-porn are interested in really is that age-old middle-class lovey fantasy of rough working class boys shagging each other. Why not just make a porno? And I'm not impressed either that the director is 'just 21'. For a child to be capable of making this cack is the most depressing thing about it.

One of the leads appeared to be some sort of art history lecturer- in that repsect at least, the scriptwriters do actually know what they're talking about;

It's so dreadfully authentic daaahlings...

Just my opinion

[mfbhxc88 · 10/10 · 27 January 2011]

I found this movie randomly on Netflix, and I did not really think it was going to be anything special. However, I LOVED it, it was steamy and real and pretty much kept me and my friends glued to the screen the entire time. (Which is not an easy thing to do. The end really shocked the hell out of me and that was a plus! The characters where easy to relate to and were all pretty well thought out. It was hard to understand some of the slang in the movie since I'm not from the UK but it was okay. The music (J.Knights in particular) really helped me get into the film. I try to get almost everyone I know to watch this because it's definitely one of the better indie films i've seen in a really long time.

Repugnant people behaving repugnantly

[Quinoa_Chris_Kirk · 3/10 · 16 October 2018]

This is a film about people who use violence to mask their pain and shame, but the characters are so undeveloped and unconvincing that it is difficult to have any sympathy for them. With such hollow characters the tenderness is empty and the extreme violence is merely a completely unpleasant and unnecessary assault on the senses.

Raw, Gritty Coming of Age Story

[gradyharp · 8/10 · 2 January 2010]

SHANK is an important debut film for director Simon Pearce (apparently only 21 years old) and writers Darren Flaxstone and Christian Martin. The story has the courage to be honest enough to view gang behavior and the cross section of needs that gang membership provides to young lads in search of their true identity: first comes identification through 'belonging' to like lost souls, and second comes the breakthrough of self discovery. The fact that this rather terrifying tale is based on fact as lived by the writers adds to the punch the film carries.

Cal (Wayne Virgo) is the vulnerable lead lad, a member of a Bristol gang led by a rather despicable female Nessa (Alice Payne) who finds pleasure in 'filming' the gang's bashing of victims. Cal takes on this trait by seeking out victims for release of his same sex energy, using drugs to render his victims cooperative, films his conquests using a cellphone camera, and then beats the victims bloody: an early scene illustrates this behavior with a teacher named Scott (Gary Summers) who while recovering shares the incident with an off screen therapist, gradually unfolding the fact that Scott's partner was abused by this same gang. While Cal displays this pugilistic behavior in secret, in the presence of his gang his physical attraction to fellow gang member Jonno (Tom Bott, in an impressive film debut) surfaces - an attraction that appears to be reciprocal were it not for the forbidden arena of same sex love. The gang attacks a young French exchange student Olivier (Marc Lambert), but Cal cannot tolerate the abuse of this obviously innocent gay lad and follows him, offering him a ride home, and eventually merging into accepting his sexual identity with the kindness of Olivier's open heart. Once the gang discovers Cal's desertion, the stalking begins and Jonno awakens to his own needs for Cal - much to the chagrin of the coarse Nessa. There is a final confrontation between Cal and Olivier and the gang, and Jonno exacts his revenge and devastation in a brutal attack. The manner in which the characters resolve their needs and find themselves is the ending of the film.

The young cast is excellent and the varying chemistries among them is credible. The film is a British Indie and would be more impressive if the dialog was not so covered with extraneous sound and by the use of Bristol accents which are all but unintelligible. Virgo, Laurent and especially Bott make strong impressions for a debut outing. This team will likely be heard from in additional films.

Grady Harp

Plot proceeded as expected

[jaroslaw99 · 4/10 · 26 March 2022]

I understand this is not a "typical" Gay film. Still that alone doesn't make it brilliant. I would expect a thug in a gang to be in the closet. I found the romance to be very believable. Why wouldn't the lead (thug) fall in love with probably the only person who showed him love and concern?

There is a lot of eye Candy and male nudity for a Gay guy. Simulated sex is okay, the scenes are more than a bit too long for my taste. They should be long enough to get the idea of what is going on. Close ups of truly gorgeous men are appreciated and a flash of nudity - great. After that just make hard core porn.

So Jonno finds out his best thug friend is Gay and rapes him as punishment? I suppose gang behavior mixed with drugs and angst doesn't make sense. Other areas of society don't make logical sense either. But a male raping another male for being gay is absurd. Maybe it really happens. I don't know.

I mainly came here to deplore how our society handles gangs, what makes them come into existence etc. I'm neither a bleeding heart or a throw away the key kind of person but this kind of violence needs to be dealt with.

I think it's great

[zqx-63743 · 10/10 · 25 February 2020]

I like this movie very much, but it's mainly the acting skills of the actors I like. I'm glad that this movie made me know the lovely Wayne. I'm his fan from China, and I like him very much! In the film, he is green and has a great personality. Of course, he also likes Jonno very much. The most irritating thing is that the director didn't let him kiss cal, which is very irritating.

innovative take on reality

[jfjfrancis8 · 10/10 · 8 March 2011]

There are many great reviews for this film and I curious as to whether the low scoring ones aren't born of some vindictive bent. There is much to commend this film's fresh take and realisation of a difficult and under discussed issue of youth culture versus gay coming out.

Fast paced, slick editing, booming soundtrack makes this a page turner of a film - excuse the mixed metaphor!

The youthful inexperienced casting clearly adds some authenticity to this narrative but their intuited performances don't detract.

I was given the DVD as a gift and it has been well played. The DVD extras in particular the making of reveal an earnest sincere desire from all involved to tackle homophobia in a uncompromising way - and it does.

It's a brave and honestly executed British film....well done all involved.

Like Lightning From A Clear Sky... Raw, Electric, Eloquent and Unashamed.

[miguel-790-424268 · 10/10 · 14 July 2010]

This film is the most gaspingly and brutally real gay-themed film you will ever see.

Cal, the central character is completely believable and represents every gay man's dream: a straight-acting hunky punk. His best mate is something out of my wildest fantasies. To be honest, I had a hardon for most of the film.

Sure there are weaknesses in the dialogue and plot, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. The gang dynamic was confusing and underdeveloped. The blond girl took up too much of the film's emotional energy. The French lover was a bit awkward, but I've dated a French guy exactly like that, so it wasn't unrealistic.

But I will remember this film- for being things that most films are not: daring, raw, unbridled, sexual, and hyperactive. I was shocked to hear that the director is only 21 and this is his first film! I hope to see a standing ovation at the Image & Nation festival in Montreal.

Just watch it already!