Film review: Shank

Set five years in the future within a London estate, Shank explores  human nature in a world where crime and population levels are at a shocking high and food supplies are on the decline. Gangs have taken over making the unaffiliated easy targets for violent attacks. Aligning yourself with a crew is your only means of survival.

Junior (Kedar Williams-Sterling), the protagonist, gives the audience a walk-through of his ends.  His crew, The Paper Chaserz, consist of Rager (Grime artist Bashy) his older brother, Kickz (Adam Deacon of Kidulthood and Adulthood fame), Craze, Sweet Boy and Dutty (their pitbull). The Paper are strictly about business; they scout out food supplies delivered to undisclosed warehouses, steal them and sell them on at the market. Rager is clear about their MO when pulling a job: No Killing! On the other hand The Souljahz are a bunch of teenage troublemakers whose reckless behaviour breeds violence and murder. This particular day proves fatal for one of The Paper Chaserz when the Souljahz try to muscle in on their hustle.

Director Mo Ali captures the attention of his teen audience by integrating animation and video game scenes into his first film. Ten minutes in and we find Junior running from The Souljahz and their leader Tugz (Jerome Holder) in a gripping chase scene, but Mo Ali fails to keep the momentum going for the remaining 80 minutes of the film, concluding with an unrealistic and disappointing end. Setting the film in the future would have given Shank the edge it needed if the London portrayed in the film was vastly different from how we know it today. From the undeveloped and transient characters to the incomplete back story into how London became a lawless society, Shank leaves more unanswered questions than it answers.

Kedar Williams-Sterling offers a good performance as Junior and definitely wins the audience’s support even when he makes questionable decisions.  Ashley “Bashy” Thomas pulls off the older brother and leader role in his first acting debut.  The grime star also served as the music supervisor for the film.

Despite its shortcomings, Shank hopes to find its audience and judging by the unresolved ending, a sequel could be possible.

Shank is out in Cinemas on 26 March 2010.