A Violent Man (2022) User Reviews

Looked like a cheap B-movie, but this is some serious heavy stuff. Too depressing to my likings though...

[imseeg · 6/10 · 5 February 2022]

When I first read the synopsis I thought this would be another cheaply made prison B-movie, with tons of macho cliches. None of that though.

The good: seriously good acting performances by all actors involved, but especially the leading actor is quite impressive to watch.

More good: we only get to see the inside of the dark prison cells, but despite these small and claustrophobic prison cells, there is still lots of great photography to be seen, underscored with a decent soundtrack. I hadnt expected these kind of qualities in such a low budget movie.

Not any bad? Well, this story is simply too bleak and depressing to my likings. This movie will never get popular for that very reason, but I aint saying it is a bad movie because of that. Not at all.

One thing was bugging me though, because there is a lack in dramatic development in the story, because there simply is not any sort of gripping storyline, which could have kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. There was only more of the same bleak and depressing scenes of prison life, minute after minute... Understandable of course, because repetitious, depressing lving conditions is what real prison life is about, but movie making isnt. Kinda missed opportunity, to make this movie rise beyond what it is effectively now: a hardhitting, depressing portrait of the destructive prison conditions.

Well acted though. And impressively portrayed. But I guess only suited for those who can stumach such a bleak and depressing story...

Started off promisingly enough, ended badly!

[DaringMaverick2000 · 5/10 · 13 March 2023]

How is it that a film that has great acting, intriguing cinematography and decent direction...utterly undo all that good work in the final moments!?!

Craig Fairbrass is great in his role as long-term inmate. The chemistry is good between him and the rest of the cast even though (due to covid restrictions) couldn't film outside the prison cell itself. Of all the films that went in production in 2020 - this film suffered from the one-room setting I feel.

The plot itself makes you want to root for Steve; despite the fact that he committed a hideous crime 20 years ago. Steve gets a new inmate and there's almost a father-son dynamic between them.

Spoilers from this sentence onwards:

The ending makes absolutely no sense! Makes viewing the movie a complete waste of time, in retrospect. Such a shame because it was good slow burner up until that point!

Very violent!!

[bjac-71327 · 6/10 · 9 February 2022]

Very bleak, ultra violent movie. I wouldn't last 5 mins in prison lol. Very shocking ending. Didn't expect that..I guess he decided he needed to stay locked up for good.

The adventures of Pat sitting in his cell

[aeongale · 5/10 · 6 February 2022]

To be fair, there's a bit more to it than that, and Fairbrass is a slightly different character. Here he spends a lot of time contemplating on what it means to be a man that feels nothing. When he's in company of others there's usually fights breaking out or words of wisdom on how to survive. Overall it's an okay film, it never really builds up tension to dramatic key points though. The directing is all over the place, some good, some not so. The music often doesn't work.

Bravo Fairbrass

[desimonici-898-584421 · 24 March 2022]

I said else where that I thought Craig Fairbrass had a decent performance in him if he got right role and this might be it. OK he's not going to turn up in a Merchant Ivory type offering any time soon but in this role he was very believable and believable without being over the top.

This is a movie with a serious message and I am worried that the kind of men it is trying to reach will simply get off on the violence and the teenage boy type machismo that seems to keep them in an extended childhood. I guess it's about choices really, choices and what you're willing to sacrifice in order to carry on living like an animal with no conscience.

Violent

[johnhaslam-28636 · 5/10 · 11 April 2022]

Heavy hard going. Don't watch if you need cheering up.

Craig Fairbrass, although is by now too typecast for his talent, is brilliant as usual. Carries a dark dark film further than it could have gone without him.

Well I'll be damned

[benbrice-30756 · 1/10 · 5 February 2022]

Hold on to your seats in a film I can only compare to a grizzly combination of the lion king and zero dark thirty, Sir Craig Fairbrass delivers yet again. In a world with rising gas and electricity prices and a government which is all over the tabloids - this is a film what we all needed. What can't this man do? Well I tell you if he was running for parliament I would vote for him. A gentleman of the kindest persuasion, and actor of the finest of occasions, a hero who is seemingly Caucasian.

The low scores probably didnt watch or understand it.

[ronan73 · 7/10 · 22 March 2022]

Its sad to see that great movies and outstanding acting dont get high scores anymore.

Anyway.... This movie is a 1 room story. That in itself is hard to do then theres the small team and low budget. But the skill of the makers and acting made for a great film.....I swear i sound like I work for them but I dont. I just like the theatre and watching a good play...which by the way isnt much more thana cinema ticket.

But watching a theatre production gives you a respect for the story teller and acting to tell a huge story and off shoots of that story all from one stage...or room in this case, and to pull it off. And I think that gives me a respect and understanding for the work put into this film.

Not perfect but really well done and acting is outstanding. I believed everyone was who they portrayed ...some hollywood A listers could learn a thing or two.

Story telling 8 acting 10 score 7.

Dark

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 3 July 2022]

Steve Mackleson (Craig Fairbrass) is twenty years into a life sentence for the double murder of his ex-wife and her lover. He has accepted that he will never see the world again, yet he hopes to protect his new cellmate Marcus (Stephen Odubola), a young black man caught between gangs and his career of dealing drugs, even when in jail.

At the same time, Steve is working with social worker Claire Keats (Zoë Tapper) to get the chance to finally confront his daughter Rebecca (Rosie Sheehy) and try to explain why he murdered her mother.

Directed and written by Ross McCall, who also appears in one scene, this is nearly a single room - a jail cell - film about a hard man remaining that way despite everything jail has put him through. It's nasty, brutish and unforgiving, much like its lead, who made his name in movies like Villain and Rise of the Footsoldier.

Sombre. Fairbrass is Superb.

[bud_dusky · 7/10 · 26 October 2022]

Portrait of a violent man. Everyone involved should be proud of this production. Fairbrass has never been better.

More like a play than a movie but with cinematic quality. Everyone performs their part carefully and maturely, I believed them all. At the helm is Fairbrass who carries the film with menace and compassion. Following his performance in Muscle, Fairbrass has proven he ihas more subtlety than the extremes of Pat Tate. His choices as an actor have smartly stretched and I'm glad to have my expectations as a fan change with satisfaction.

Ultimately though director, Ross McCall, must take the credit. I'd never heard of him but I'll watch for his future projects with interest too.

more like a boring man

[LetsReviewThat26 · 3/10 · 27 March 2022]

I will say one thing. The cast actually did pretty well. The dialogue was ok in places but the plot I didn't think was all that. Going in I didn't know this film would be set entirely in the prison and found myself half way through hoping for it to end. However when Steve was talking to these other character as if they were there I did like, the shooting of those scenes made you feel for the man and you really got to see more of who he is. Altogether not that great but if you like prison dramas with a bit of violence and excessive uses of swearing you'll like it.

A grim tale

[paul-ayres-60784 · 8/10 · 4 February 2022]

A very powerful, grim but compelling prison drama focused primarily on a prisoner serving life with no chance of ever being released.

The whole movie is set in one prison cell without a single glimpse of the outside world. It's a hard hitting exploration of coming to terms with life with no hope.

The acting is superb which really gives the impact intended by the writer of this extremely grim tale.

Part of me was eager for the movie to end as it was so depressing but I am glad that I watched it. If nothing else it makes the viewer glad not to share such a hopeless future.

My only complaint is that I found the dialogue difficult to understand as the characters tended to mumble a lot. Perhaps it was just the sound recording but I kept having to turn up the volume, yet still I couldn't understand it all.

All in all I thought the movie was very good but don't watch it if you need cheering up.

Deep prison drama

[harrylt · 6/10 · 29 March 2022]

A quiet, but dangerous lifer shares a cell with a new young inmate, which he develops a liking to. Its set in a violent prison and as the film progresses, they both fend off rival gangs whilst looking out for one another.

I can't see it winning any major awards anytime soon, but I did enjoy it, due to how well the script and actors where. If got a couple of hours spare, I'd recommend it, if your into gritty prison dramas.

The typical lockdown movie

[Leofwine_draca · 2/10 · 30 March 2022]

Well, AVENGEMENT this isn't. Instead it looks like a typical cheap lockdown movie, shot in just a single dark room with a few characters chattering interminably away. The plot feels like a spin on the old prison dramas about old lags taking young rookies under their wing, but despite a few moments of casual violence it's very dull, with cod psychology and bored actors.

What was the point?

[odo-ben · 4/10 · 28 September 2022]

Didn't get it, didn't really get it, didn't want to get it by then end.

Well I did actually get the point but I don't know why it was so random. I hate the movies that flick back and forward with no real narrative nor explanation. It was an "artists" movie but not one for those that are just expecting a film.

Nice idea. Poorly executed in my honest opinion. It lacked true heart, performance or execution. Characters were undoubtedly dark and emotionless in that scenario, but they were so boring. You can play that role and still bring a character to the story.

All in all weak, but I got the story and direction and the way the film was going. Just not really for me.

It's OK

[antide-42376 · 5/10 · 18 May 2022]

This is one dark movie. Craig Fairbrass stars as Steve whose sole purpose is to leave a legacy of being a brutal and cold hearted killer in the confines of prison. He simply wants to become a legend and stuff the consequences. Full of 'F' bombs and fluent use of the 'C' word this doesn't pretend to be an easy watch.

It moves slowly but is never really boring and it is decently acted. I personally preferred another movie Fairbrass did called 'Villain' but this is OK, no masterpiece but not bad. It loses a mark because some of the dialogue was poor to my ears with quite a bit of mumbling.

It was ok

[elliotjeory · 5/10 · 4 April 2022]

Not Craig's best. Bit of a weird one like that muscle film he made. Had some good scenes and tackled some serious issues. Kind of like starred up. Good cameo by Ulrich Thomsen.

Unconventional. unexpected. Complex. Emotional. Sad. Clever. Dark.

[dr_phil_healey-46020 · 7/10 · 4 July 2023]

I watched this film and appreciated the storyline and acting. Despite being filmed mainly in one prison cell, the movie keeps you engaged as you try and figure out what happened and why it happened. I'm not sure I figured it out.

The filming includes scenes that are only happening in the main characters head. You end up questioning which scenes are real.

Much is left for the viewer to interpret.

Who is he in prison for killing? Why did he kill them? How many has he killed in prison?

I hope never to end up in prison. The rules to follow and the consequences if you don't are clearly shown.

Alot of time is spent on discussions with his legal council.. Would they let a female on the wing in his room? Is this all in his mind?

HIs meeting with his daughter is harrowing. Seriously upsetting. The acting in this scene is truly amazing.

Is he a violent man? Is he a sociopath?

There are some very disturbing scenes in this movie. It is certainly worth watching. It makes you consider the harsh realities of prison life. How many people die in prison?

I intend to watch it again and pay closer attention to what is said because you have a lot of time in prison to consider your situation.

UK prisoner psych/emotional drama

[supermellowcali · 6/10 · 7 February 2022]

Not an action movie. While I appreciated its attempt at depth and understanding, I didn't find it interesting despite the excellent cast, direction and dialog. If you like stories that are drawn out with a lot of talking about characters' backgrounds and feelings of regret and nihilism, this one might be for you. Otherwise it's a fastforward kind of movie.

Much better than I expected.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 8/10 · 8 February 2022]

Actor Ross McCall makes his directorial debut, second writing credit, and also cast himself in this low budget B film, and he did not disappoint. This is one of the much better B films I've seen in a long time. McCall's directing, along with the excellent cinematography, use of colors, and amazing camera angles/shots, as well as the impressive low budget basically two-room set, captured the gritty prison jail cell vibe to perfection. Add the better than usual (for a B film) score - just sometimes a little overbearing, and the viewer is immersed in the scenes. The 105 min runtime flew by even with the slow pacing and the lack of any real storyline, which is my only complaint. I get that McCall was aiming for a more character driven film, but there were many convoluted scenes, some needing more info, and an ending that needed explaining. I usually can guess or use my imagination for such endings, but I got too invested in the story and really wanted to know what McCall was trying to achieve. Had his writing been tighter, this film could've been one of the best prison films. The casting and performances were all spot on, with Fairbrass giving us one of his best performances to date. He carried this film and was really convincing in his character. Stephen Odubola was awesome, and the lovely Zoe Tapper was easy on the eyes. Overall I really enjoyed this film, and if you're a fan of the genre or Fairbrass, it's a must see. I applaud Ross McCall for giving us this little gem. It's a well deserving 7.5 rounded up to 8/10 from me.

Intense and powerful

[alanmcmasterbmc · 7/10 · 26 December 2022]

I watched this thinking it would just be background noise watching with "Steve" shouting abuse and getting angry, it proved to be very different.

I enjoyed the silent parts of Steve thinking out loud rather than voicing it all.

Don't get me wrong, there is still violent scenes within the movie but it doesn't define the movie whole movie. Rating is a bit low, it's not a blockbuster either, definitely should be a solid 6/7.

It will provoke thought of what inside prison is actually like for people and how the system needs reformed that people who spend large periods of time inside don't feel like they can leave and be reintegrated back into everyday life. Fight for everything inside and trust no one, why would the outside be different, only in prison you can get away with it, what can they do that isn't already happening?

More jail time? Already here!

His daughters acting was fantastic as well. Script was on point as well, felt real, like she was actually leading up to this meeting her whole life and knew how to handle it all and still be composed and strong enough to be her own person.

Where do the low ratings come from???

[Trilby16 · 10/10 · 5 July 2022]

Low ratings from low-IQ viewers, I guess. I thought it was excellent. Yes, claustrophobic, as it all takes place inside a single dark prison cell, but the acting is top-notch, it's emotional, it holds your attention. It did mine. I just finished watching it and I'm kind of gutted. The daughter, in a brief performance, is wonderful. I'm glad I watched and I urge others to watch with an open mind. This is worth your time.

Top film

[cfdtdb · 9/10 · 4 May 2023]

A exceptional film with Fairbrass revealing what a talented actor he can be. A real insight into a man who has no where to go, no one to love and no remorse - extremely sad, real and thought provoking.

I did not award the full 10 only because perfection is required to achieve that status.

The scene between daughter and Steve and the one between Steve and his younger Dad were superb.

Prison life is painful and you begin to realise what the main reason is that people fear prison - not the cell or the 5 years - it's the people you have to mix with - you can't relax for a minute - there is evil around every corner, in every cell.

Dark, but couldnt switch it off

[sirtompo2 · 10/10 · 6 February 2022]

Once again Mr Fairbrass shines through in this prison drama, a believable look at prison life and lost hope, thought provoking, claustrophobic, gritty, and tense Loved it.

Fairbass gets better and better

[wesley-8287 · 8/10 · 21 February 2022]

First review to thank Craig Fairbass for his recent films, I love British stuff and he bringing it. There's is depth to his films and I just buzz off his tough guy role too looking forward to the next one . Ignore rating, Great film especially if get your into British films and enjoy his previous work.