Originally posted for January 2015’s Genre Grandeur over at MovieRob.
Dead Man’s Shoes – British film review
Dead Man’s Shoes is a 2004 thriller directed by Shane Meadows, who also co-wrote the movie along with its main star and long-time friend, Paddy Considine. The movie is a revenge story, telling the story of Richard (Considine) a soldier who has returned to his home town having been stationed at war. He has come home with the intention of getting revenge on the gang of men who tortured his handicapped younger brother Anthony (Toby Kebbell) whilst he was away.
Set in a small town in the Midlands, the two creators – Meadows and Considine – initially had the idea for Dead Man’s Shoes whilst discussing revenge movies of a grander scale and the question crept into their minds – what would happen if this was me or you? What if the setting was smaller and the characters low key? What would happen if there was a semblance of realism basically.
And so became Dead Man’s Shoes. The perfect example of a revenge movie that for once has no bravado, no corny one liners and no Liam Neeson in a leather jacket. It’s still very violent – the movie is rated 18 for good reason. And as we watch Richard pick off the perpetrators one by one, which is actually quite satisfying (though gory), there is also an undeniable sadness to a story which serves to be both bleak and triumphant at the same time.
It’s a very atmospheric movie, as well as the distinctive and moody soundtrack many scenes were shot in black and white and entwined into the movie to demonstrate the flashbacks scenes of Anthony being bullied and tortured by the local bullies.
The group of bullies themselves are Losers (with a capital “L”), small time ‘gangsters’ (pot dealers etc) who drive around in a white and green 2CV thinking they’re something special. Anyone who’s lived in a small town will have known people like this. People who never move on, people who prefer to stay ‘big fish’ in a small pond. Well, unhappily for our group of losers – Richard is the perfect killing machine, trained by the army and broken hearted for what his little brother went through – this group of losers do not stand A CHANCE.
Dead Man’s Shoes is extremely low budget – around £700,000 in total to make, which as anyone who knows anything about movie budgets will know, is crazy cheap. The low budget just makes me love the movie even more though. It proves (in my opinion, which is usually correct, even if it is just my opinion) that money means nothing when creating a wonderful piece of cinema. What does really matter is the story, writing, direction and of course, acting. All of which are perfect in this movie. Considine and Kebbell play their parts perfectly and beautifully. In fact, everyone does.
This is a must watch for everyone, a thought provoking and clever movie that never gets boring and constantly challenges the viewer. After all, with Richard avenging his brother and leaving a trail of blood behind him – who is to say he is the good guy still? It’s an interesting movie, undeniably moral but with enough blood, violence and tension to keep the most ardent thriller fan very happy. Even though you’ve probably never heard of it, don’t let that put you off. No-one has heard of it, but that doesn’t stop it being one of the best cult thrillers of all time. And I hate to be a tease but…….the twist ending will stay with you forever.
“God will forgive them. He’ll forgive them and allow them into Heaven….I can’t live with that”
emmakwall (explains it all) 
Pingback: Dead Man’s Shoes | Riley Central
Thanks for this review. I watched it last night. The jumping around with flashbacks and such was a little confusing but I REALLY liked this revenge film! Just posted my review and linked to yours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sweet!! I’ll check it out 🙂 glad you enjoyed it, wasn’t the ending pretty crazy! Thanks for linking to my review too Damien 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The ending still has me wondering about the timeline. Not to post a spoiler but was the little brother with him as a ghost at the beginning?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure to be honest, I think maybe he was just imagining his brother. He knew he was dead, but in his grief and madness I think he was still speaking to him. He could have been a ghost though, it’s never really clear is it. Interesting 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds pretty interesting. Will have to search it out at some point.
LikeLike
Great review Em! I have had this on my watch list for so long now. I really need to get off my butt and watch it already, it sounds like a very good film!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Zoe!! 🙂
I hope you enjoy it when/if you watch it! I know what you mean, I have such a long watch list. I’ve got DVDs I bought literally over a year ago that I’ve still not watched!! Lol. I’m looking forward to Shitfest btw 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sheesh, me too! Even worse are some are movies I absolutely love, but haven’t gotten back to
Eeeeeeep! Me too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m soooo the same! I blame TV and work lol 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
COol, this thing sounds right up my alley. Good work Em-&-Em.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Em-&-Em lol! I love that 🙂 thanks Tom very much, do you think you might give it a watch?
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, 100% I just need to figure out how to do so now
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll help 🙂 it’s probably fairly cheap to buy but that’s a big commitment.
Perhaps online somewhere? I don’t ‘think’ it’s on Netflix.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah it’s not and it fucking sucks retarded monkey balls. hahah. I hate when things should be right there but fucking aren’t. Like Bone Fucking goddamn Tomahawk that i tried to d/l the other day only to be smacked by a virus. hahahahah fuck
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fucking sucks retarded monkey balls like a mother fucker on acid drops fucker!
Sorry 🙂
*clears throat*
I REALLY want to see Bone Tomahawk!!! Have you managed to get a decent d/l?
#teamamericafuckyeah
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! No unfortunately not yet b/c I currently don’t have an open bank account, which essentially means I can’t buy anything via streaming b/c they charge your card (obv) and I do have a card but it won’t work. So i gotta wait awhile. I’m sure it’ll be worthhhhhhhhhhhit
#ballz
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ballz!!!! Look forward to hearing your thoughts anyway Tom 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup. This is one of the very best. Wonderful soundtrack, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the soundtrack in the context of the movie, but not so much to listen to on an ‘every day’ basis. I’m lucky enough to have a copy on CD, unbelievably I found it in a charity shop very cheap (it’s pretty expensive to buy) but I must say as much as I love the film, it’s not one I listen to very often.
I have an original painting of Richard on my living room wall as well 🙂 I got it for my 21st birthday – many moons ago 🙂
Thanks for your comment!!! Always pleased to meet another fan 🙂
LikeLike
Maybe if we have discussions about films we can come up with our own idea 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great idea Alex! Fame, fortune and the midlands could await us yet 🙂
LikeLike
Don’t let it go to your head! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only if you don’t! :p 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You had me at revenge movie Ems! I hope I can find this over here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too Kims!!! It’s a brilliant film!!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We can watch it together one day 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Double 🙂 🙂
xox
LikeLike
tnx Emma!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem Rob!!!!
LikeLike
Undoubtedly Meadows’ best film, Considine’s finest hour, and a British thriller to beat the best from anywhere. A modern classic deserving your high praise, Em. (I like it too, as you can tell.)
As ever, Pete. xxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yay! I love it when we agree 🙂 which is often! Here here to everything you just said (or should that be hear hear? I never can remember but please bear with me. Or do I mean bare?! Argh.)
🙂 How are you Pete? Xxx
LikeLike
It is ‘hear, hear’, and ‘bear’ is correct. Doing as well as can be expected, dear Em. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know 🙂 aren’t I hilarious though!!! Hmmm?!
I know you probably feel down in the dumps, keep your chin up Pete xxx
LikeLike