Dead Man’s Shoes

(2006)

Directed by

Shane Meadows

Review by Todd Plucknett

Dead Man’s Shoes is the 2006 British independent film by Shane Meadows. It is a brutal and sometimes fascinating portrait of a “beast of revenge”. It explores his motives and thought process, creating an atmosphere that is undeniably gripping. It is a great film, but I feel that it should have been a bit longer.

The movie revolves around Richard (Paddy Considine, who co-wrote the script with Meadows), a man who had always taken care of his mentally-challenged little brother Anthony (Tony Kebbell). Richard leaves to join the army, and as a result, Anthony starts hanging out with a manipulative drug dealer named Sonny (Gary Stretch). During the seven years that Richard is gone, Sonny and his gang use Anthony as a pet. They manipulate him into doing all kinds of drugs and other degrading things, just to be in control of him. Anthony had no idea what he was doing. His brain didn’t work in a way to discern right from wrong. Anthony absolutely suffered during those years, and Richard decides to settle the score when he returns home. The opening line of the film is: “God will forgive them. He'll forgive them and allow them into Heaven. I can't live with that.”

On his rampage of revenge (wearing a green boiler suit and a gas mask), Richard toys with the gang. He paints things on their walls, clothes, and faces. He wants them to know that he is coming. Sonny tries to plead with him, but he will not budge. Richard was just so quiet and careful while going about his business. The ways in which he kills the men grows very complex and torturous. All while this is happening, we get glimpses of the past, showing how Sonny and his men abused and ridiculed Anthony.

The film develops into a highly intriguing and absolutely brutal tale of revenge. It has shades of Taxi Driver, mixed with Meadows’s absorbing style that he since showed in This Is England. The final scene is one of the most memorable scenes of the past few years. It is just haunting. The “twist” that is revealed at the end is great and thought-provoking in itself. It is so much deeper than that, though. If you truly explore Richard’s motives, you will realize that revenge was not the only thing he was after. It is also something quite different. If the audience can catch on to this, it will make the experience even more satisfying.

Considine shines in his role. It could be the most complete performance I have seen him give. What his character represents and how he portrays intimidation, torment, and sorrow throughout the film make the performance completely authentic and admirable. Kebbell is very good as Anthony. He really nailed the gimmicks and attitude of the character. Stretch was fine, and Paul Hurstfield gives a very emotional performance in the final scenes. The writing is very good. It is not just the revenge thriller it would appear to be. The atmosphere is always very moody and eerie. You just know something is going to happen, but then it doesn��t. It does not follow the rules of films of this kind, making it even more intense and brilliant.

The film is one should be seen. Shane Meadows is a very talented director, and this film shows that talent. The poster may turn people off, but it is nowhere near as graphic as it makes it seem. It is a psychological drama, exploring the mind of man taking revenge on the people who tortured his brother. If people can experience the same realizations that I had at the end, then that will make it even more enjoyable. It will linger around in your mind long after the film has concluded. It is a bit on the short side, though. I felt that where it condensed, it should have expanded, but it is a satisfying and original experience either way.

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