Attack the Block (2011)

It’s raining Gollums!

Attack the Block is written and directed by Joe Cornish. It stars Jodie Whittaker, John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Jumayn Hunter, Luke Treadaway and Nick Frost. Music is by Basement Jaxx and Steven Price and cinematography by Tom Townend.

When a South London tower block comes under attack from aliens, a young gang of lads and the nurse they just mugged have to band together to fight back.
In Britain we was wondering just when Joe Cornish was going to turn his hand to directing a feature film, here for his debut he tackled a sci-fiction action comedy with a wry bit of social commentary thrown in for good measure – it was worth the wait.

With one Edgar Wright hovering about in the producers lounge and Nick Frost on hand as a reassuringly adult comedic presence, it could be argued that Attack the Block has joined the Wright/Pegg production line. Yet when you break it down this does in fact homage a myriad of siege invasion films, but still it becomes very much its own animal.

Cornish dangerously structures his film by introducing us to a young gang of kids who think nothing of mugging a single defenceless woman – with a knife. With the group spouting their turf speak (some none British views may struggle initially with the dialogue), they are not a bunch of youngsters one can easily get on side with. In fact to dislike them in an instant is wholly justifiable and understandable, so much so that once the aliens arrive it’s a human reaction to root for them to rid us of these troublesome youths. So yes, dangerous by Cornish, yet astute as it happens.

As the pic progresses and we spend time with the gang, we start to understand their way of life, their part in a tough society. It’s during this key phase that Cornish brings in another structure, that of the victim and the perpetrators having to band together to fight an enemy, surely he isn’t going to make heroes out of this gang of youthful miscreants? So once this scene is set, and the aliens start to unleash toothsome hell on this part of South London, it’s battle royale time. The blood and jokes seamlessly flow together, the score booms and other characters are introduced, some either for a lighter angle – others to annoy us and maybe be set up for alien gnasher fodder?

The aliens themselves are a splendid creation, a new addition to an overstocked market. One of the youngsters calls them gorilla wolf things, that’s about right, they be jet black with spiky hair and bio luminescent jaws and claws, they move on all fours. And then it’s the last part of Cornish’s clever structure plan, for as we are given a reason why the aliens are after this particular group, so does characters transformations offer a prudent point. There is hope unbound, not just for people in movie, but for societies fractured by the way of the life afforded them. While the lesson here of people taking responsibility for their actions, to right their wrongs, is written loud and proud.

Smart and fresh performances across the board, led by the wonderful Whittaker and a star making turn from Boyega, close out the deal. Attack the Block is a genre spilcer of a picture that brings something new to the table it sits at. Trust Bruv! 8/10

An alien invasion hits the "hood" in London reeking havoc with the local gangs. Excellent performances by all invoived including a breakout role for John Boyega (or Star Wars fame).

An alien invasion hits the "hood" in London reeking havoc with the local gangs. Excellent performances by all invoived including a breakout role for John Boyega (or Star Wars fame).

Usually, if it's got a Treadaway in it, it is going to be fun. This one is. It starts with poor nurse "Sam" (Jodie Whittaker) getting mugged by "Moses" (John Boyega) and his gang on a South London housing estate. It's Guy Fawkes night so with fireworks and racket everywhere, nobody notices her plight. Just as they are about to move on, some debris crashes into a nearby car and "Moses" goes to see what he can find. What he doesn't expect is that something is going to bite him - something he doesn't want to bite back! In a bit of a panic, he promptly kills it and he and his gang return home to see what it is they've got. That was their first mistake for shortly afterwards they are besieged by loads of pantomime gorillas who have seriously overdone it with the Colgate. Now this is where "Brewis" (Luke T) comes up with the theory that "Moses" - or his clothes - have been impregnated with a pheromone by a lady beastie and those chasing are, well, just all a bit horny after a very long space flight. With that eye-watering prospect facing "Moses" he must either get naked or try to find a way to lure the critters to their collective doom. His agent must have had a view on the former solution, so he opts for the latter... This has clearly been done on a bit of a shoestring, but the writing and characterisations are quite entertaining, Whittaker, Boyega and the gobby "Pest" (Alex Esmail) deliver some of the candidly pithy script quite amiably as their ridiculous scenario plays out, perilously, before them. Rarely can a recycling bin have featured quite so importantly in a movie. Treadaway has a daft double act going on with the geeky "Ron" (Nick Frost) and Jumayn Hunter also chips in well as the ostensibly menacing gang leader "Hi-Hatz" who keeps a marijuana plantation growing in a top floor flat that must have had one hell of an electricity bill. A first effort from director Joe Cornish, and it's basic on just about every level but it marries the principles of community spirit and brotherhood with a feature length episode of "Dr. Who" quite enjoyably.