Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageStraightheads (2007)
Director: Dan Reed
Synopsis
A couple seek vengeance following a brutal and violent attack.
Movie review
From Time Out London
What was Gillian Anderson thinking when she signed for this film? The actress had been quietly forging a post-Scully reputation as a respected and varied actress, with roles in ‘The Last King of Scotland’ and the acclaimed BBC adaptation of Dickens’s ‘Bleak House’. So why would she agree to star in this superficial revenge fantasy, which plays out like a ‘Nuts’-generation ‘X-Files’ geek’s wet dream gone wrong? One can only imagine that she was offering her services for the greater good of the filmgoing public, in a vain attempt to inject a drop of plausibility into writer-director Dan Reed’s half-baked script. Or to counter the stupifying one-dimensionality of her co-star, Danny Dyer, usually to be found flying the flag for English moronity in Nick Love films.Anderson plays Alice, a middle-class London career woman who lures ‘bit-of-rough’ security system installer, Adam (Dyer) to a glamorous party at a countryside mansion before seducing him with some bizarre chin-sucking in the woods. Unfortunately, their pleasure is short-lived, as they are savagely attacked on the drive home, leaving them physically and emotionally scarred, and with a bloodthirsty desire to settle the score against their assailants. From here, the film is a shallow study of the ‘intoxicating allure of violence', with a few gratuitous tit shots thrown in for good measure. The characters have as much psychological depth as tyre skid marks, and Adam and Alice’s transformation from law-abiding citizens – or ‘straightheads’ – to rifle-wielding vigilantes is so sudden it’s absurd. The few fleeting moments of suspense created in the build-up to the highly unpleasant (but occasionally imaginative) assault scenes are insufficient redemption. Rebecca Davies
Author: Rebecca Davies
Time Out London Issue 1914: April 25-May 1 2007
User reviews of this film
-
- Sophie said...
- Posted on May 07 2009 13:08 I think this review is a little harsh, so ok it wasnt the best script ive ever heard but still i think overall the film was quite good. I didn't like it when the review said "Adam and Alice’s transformation from law-abiding citizens – or ‘straightheads’ – to rifle-wielding vigilantes is so sudden it’s absurd." i don't agree with this atall, i think that if you were raped then you would feel it extremely neccesairy to seek revenge, as i know i would. Anyway, i doubt this film will be your favourite but its definatly worth a watch.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- steve said...
- Posted on Mar 29 2009 15:45 absolutely brilliant! what are the "so-called" film critics watching? or are they just guessing? get real and give some credit for a gripping low budget british film.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- sexy_boy said...
- Posted on Dec 12 2008 09:07 i fault this film was sikk
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Ed said...
- Posted on Jul 10 2008 18:00 The TimeOut review is entirely accurate. I don't think Mr. Dyer is to blame for the poor quality of this film - the lack of effort on the script front is a more fundamental flaw. After this and 'Severance', D D might want to give 'lost in the woods, likeable stoner in club casual wear turns savage survivor after attack by weirdos' a bit of a break. The same goes for 'new British film makers', who are clearly over indulged by some funding body or other.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- sexygeezer said...
- Posted on Feb 23 2008 12:19 i watcthed the movie straight heads on virgin media and loved it. thought it was quite well done!!!!! who ever review these movies are not taking it serious or not even watching the films that there surpose to critic.. see the movie it should be rating at least 4 stars..
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Andy said...
- Posted on Jul 12 2007 12:29 Don't like ballsy & gritty low budget british films much do you! First time I've been to your site and I've just read 5 reviews and they all stink. Get your heads out from your arse and start giving credit to some new british film makers.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Dan Reed
Producer: Damian Jones, Kevin Loader
Cast: Gillian Anderson, Danny Dyer, Anthony Calf, Francesca Fowler, Ralph Brown, Steven Robertson full cast
Genre(s): Thrillers
Rated: 18
Duration: 80 mins
UK Release: Apr 27 2007
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has Michael Mann lost it?
Adam Lee Davies mourns the passing of a major Hollywood talent as Michael Mann's 'Public Enemies' sees the great director running on empty
Why 'Ice Age 3' is really for adults
Tom Huddleston takes a look at a selection of films which bring adult problems to a pre-teen audience
Is this Summer 2009's best film?
The French filmmaker Claire Denis speaks to Dave Calhoun about her new film, '35 Shots of Rum', a tender portrait of a father-daughter relationship in Paris
The Informant: trailer preview
Steven Soderbergh is at it again, this time with a screwball corporate caper starring Matt Damon called 'The Informant'. View the trailer here...
Rudo y Cursi: interview
Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna talk to Time Out about their highly entertaining new comedy, 'Rudo y Cursi'
An open letter to Peter Morgan
Tom Huddleston penned an open letter to Peter Morgan offering some friendly dos and don'ts for the new Bond movie
Outdoor film screenings in London 2009
Derek Adams offers a guide to the best places to see films outside in London this summer
50 essential sci-fi films
With 'Star Trek' making serious waves, we thought it would be a perfect time to select 50 must-see sci-fi films
What do you think?
Post your review now