by Cookie N Screen
Gritty crime movies have been the diet of the British film industry since they gave cockneys guns. The idea that the streets of London are teaming with different mafia type gangs and people with debts that they’d pay off with stone slippers and a Chelsea grin has filled our television screens with varying levels of success. For every Lock, Stock and Two Smokin’ Barrels, there is a Rock N Rolla (Guy Ritchie also provides varying levels of success). They’ll never stop churning out these films that sometimes feel like Eastenders just on bigger budget. Which is exactly how the grim We Still Kill the Old Way feels, expect with more red stuff and gore.
Gritty crime movies have been the diet of the British film industry since they gave cockneys guns. The idea that the streets of London are teaming with different mafia type gangs and people with debts that they’d pay off with stone slippers and a Chelsea grin has filled our television screens with varying levels of success. For every Lock, Stock and Two Smokin’ Barrels, there is a Rock N Rolla (Guy Ritchie also provides varying levels of success). They’ll never stop churning out these films that sometimes feel like Eastenders just on bigger budget. Which is exactly how the grim We Still Kill the Old Way feels, expect with more red stuff and gore.
We Still Kill the Old Way follows a bunch of golden oldies who reunite when one of their own dies. Ritchie, who has absconded to a Spain, hears of his brother’s murder at the hands of a couple of street thugs. Jetting back to England, he is shocked to learn that his entire city has been overrun by this waif children calling themselves the “E2.” But instead of going to the police, this retired criminal has decided to hunt down gang leader Aaron and his gang in order to deliver some hefty bouts of revenge. When Aaron cannot be found, they make their way through the gang and pick them off in elaborate ways, one by on.
Think about that premise for a while and you have some sort of idea of how the movie is going to go (and certainly, who it is going to appeal to). A bunch of old men kill a bunch of hooded gang members in extravagant and bloody ways. The initial plot works best as an idea, probably passed over pints of Stella in working men clubs as men guffaw about the state of the criminals and kids these days. Translating the premise to screen falls as it is ultimately dire with strained stereotypical characters, a lack of story depth and dialogue that is lamped together from the rejects of similar films. Director and co-writer Sacha Bennett doesn’t do much to develop the film either, relying too much on the bleak violence rather than implement morals or a strong plot thread (you could even comment on the difference between the ages and gangs and how they are pretty much the same but even that fails.)
Think about that premise for a while and you have some sort of idea of how the movie is going to go (and certainly, who it is going to appeal to). A bunch of old men kill a bunch of hooded gang members in extravagant and bloody ways. The initial plot works best as an idea, probably passed over pints of Stella in working men clubs as men guffaw about the state of the criminals and kids these days. Translating the premise to screen falls as it is ultimately dire with strained stereotypical characters, a lack of story depth and dialogue that is lamped together from the rejects of similar films. Director and co-writer Sacha Bennett doesn’t do much to develop the film either, relying too much on the bleak violence rather than implement morals or a strong plot thread (you could even comment on the difference between the ages and gangs and how they are pretty much the same but even that fails.)
And the acting leaves little to be desired either. Because it is literally two extremes of acting don’ts told to try and kill each other. All the older suited and booted gentlemen such as Ian Ogilvy are stiff and boring characters who wield implements of torture, that being the dialogue, against the audience. The tracksuit bottom crew who include Danny Dyer’s daughter Danni and Eastenders scrappy actor Danny-Boy Hatchard (I swear to god, that is apparently his real name), over act so much that a little part of you can’t wait to see the gang get hacked to pieces (you just hope it was by better characters).
The ludicrous death scenes that become increasingly more disturbing may titillate those who love violence. And all those who believe that the “good old days” of London based crime where apparently murder then was more honourable then than murder is now (all because of a change of clothing). It is clumsy and clunky, relying too much on the tropes of British crime dramas and old geezers who would do better staying in their Spain resorts or down the pub rather than infiltrating our cinema screens. We Still Kill The Old Way should've really update its ways.
We Still Kill The Old Way is out on DVD & Blu Ray.
The ludicrous death scenes that become increasingly more disturbing may titillate those who love violence. And all those who believe that the “good old days” of London based crime where apparently murder then was more honourable then than murder is now (all because of a change of clothing). It is clumsy and clunky, relying too much on the tropes of British crime dramas and old geezers who would do better staying in their Spain resorts or down the pub rather than infiltrating our cinema screens. We Still Kill The Old Way should've really update its ways.
We Still Kill The Old Way is out on DVD & Blu Ray.