REVIEW: ATTACK THE BLOCK

My Rating:

It is hard to believe that a low budget British B-Movie would rank as my favorite film of the summer, but it totally is. Attack the Block proves very clearly that you don't need A-List stars, over-the-top special effects or a budget in the hundreds of millions to make a good movie.

Under the cover of fireworks in South London something strange plummets to the ground, smashing into a parked car. Aptly timed, the object provides an escape for a young nurse, Sam (Jodie Whittaker) who was being mugged by a gang of fifteen-year-old thugs. After allowing Sam to escape, Moses (John Boyega) the leader of the gang investigates the destroyed car, looking for something to steal. While in the car, he is attacked by a small creature trying to escape the car. Wounded, and his pride hurt, Moses and the gang give chase to the small creature, vowing "I'm chasin' 'at ting down, and killin' it". Soon after the gang of boys find themselves in over their heads as they try to defend their block from an alien invasion. 

Written and Directed by Joe Cornish, Attack the Block is both suspenseful and surprisingly amusing. The cinematography, music and sound design mesh perfectly to create the perfect amount of terror and suspense. I say 'the perfect amount' because at it's heart, this movie is pretty lighthearted and fun comedy. What really gives the movie its sense of amusement is the witty banter between the gang of boys and their thick, and I mean thick British accents. 

With a clever story, great acting and witty dialogue, this genre mashing scifi/horror/comedy is a must watch. If you can track down Attack the Block (it's currently still a very limited nationwide release) consider yourself lucky, this is a cult classic that is sadly flying under the mainstreams radar and isn't getting the proper love it deserves.

Released: July 2011 (limited)
Length: 1 hr 27 mins
Directed by: Joe Cornish
Written by: Joe Cornish
Cast: John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Nick Frost
Rating: R