Tuesday, October 29, 2013

OctoBOOr 25th: Attack the Block, dir. Joe Cornish, 2011 (United Kingdom). 4.5/5 pumpkins.
“This is too much madness to explain in one text!”

















This just might be my favorite genre film of the past ten years. It really does everything right – sympathetic, believable characters; a smartly-written script that’s alternately hilarious and horrifying (it’s not afraid to dispatch underage protagonists); terrifically acted; an original and intriguing creature design; a fully-realized world; satisfyingly pulpy yet with a social message that’s never too maudlin or overbearing; a kick-ass score by the one dude from Basement Jaxx. Part stoner comedy, part John Carpenteresque “heroes under siege in an enclosed space” alien invasion film, Attack the Block wears a lot of hats and covers a lot of ground for such a short, low-budget film. It stands up to many repeat viewings, with or without the aid of pot, mostly due to the strength of the cast; it’s no small feat to have a cast of relatively unknown actors who are each able to sketch out their roles to such a fully realized degree. They’re each recognizable, relatable individuals, which makes the mostly character-based jokes funnier, and the tragic moments land a lot harder. I hope this one still gets screenings at midnight festivals years from now.  

No comments:

Post a Comment