Showing posts with label British Crime Thriller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British Crime Thriller. Show all posts

Monday, 8 June 2026

PREVIEW: Fall to the Top (2026 Film) - Starring Paul Chuckle


Preview by Jon Donnis

Paul Chuckle is set to surprise audiences in Peter Hirst’s gritty new British crime thriller Fall to the Top, arriving on digital on 8 June courtesy of Reel2Reel Films. Fresh from receiving his MBE for charitable work earlier this week, the much-loved children’s TV figure makes a sharp shift in tone, stepping into a far darker world of crime and consequence.


In a striking departure from his comedy roots, Chuckle plays ‘The Jackal’, a ruthless hitman and master manipulator. The character is described as someone who psychologically torments his victims, pushing them into madness before their brutal end. It is a role that places him firmly in the shadows of London’s criminal underworld, far removed from the light-hearted image that made him a household name.


The story follows frustrated slacker Mickey, played by Stephen Reilly, who is pulled into a violent world of drugs, power struggles and corruption. As he fights his way up through the ranks, his growing arrogance begins to take hold, feeding paranoia and instability. His path eventually crosses with the notorious Jackal, a meeting that forces him to confront the harsh reality that weakness has no place in the city’s deadly drug trade.

Fall to the Top leans into a bleak and tense vision of ambition gone wrong, with Mickey’s rise and psychological decline sitting at the centre of its narrative. The film is out now on Digital from Reel2Reel Films.

Available on Prime Video at https://amzn.to/4euX22U


Friday, 29 August 2025

PREVIEW: Derelict (2025 FIlm) - Starring Suzanne Fulton and Michael Coombes

Derelict

Preview by Jon Donnis

A devastating murder intertwines the lives of two broken souls in Jonathan Zaurin's bold and unconventional crime drama, Derelict. Lauded at its FrightFest premiere, the film drew wide praise for its gritty style and powerful performances, cementing Zaurin, whose previous credits include Blood Tales and Gore Grind, as a filmmaker to watch. Now, following its festival acclaim, Derelict is set to reach a wider audience with a digital release on 1 September from Miracle Media and a Blu-ray release on 22 September from 101 Films.


Critics have been quick to highlight the strength and originality of Zaurin's sophomore feature. Film Stories called it "a striking exploration of guilt and redemption" and "a mightily impressive sophomore feature," awarding it four stars. The Hollywood News also gave it four stars, noting how the film's dark heart recalls the intensity of Bull, Dead Man's Shoes and American History X. Starburst praised Suzanne Fulton's commanding performance, describing her as "a striking figure amid the bleakly shot British cityscape."

The story unfolds through a fractured non-linear structure, interlacing timelines with a blend of black and white and colour cinematography to capture a world where memory, morality and justice blur. At its centre is Abigail, played by Fulton, who has never recovered from the brutal murder of her father. Ten years on, her grief has hardened into obsession, and she retreats further into isolation, determined to exact revenge on those she blames. Her quest collides with the troubled life of Matt, portrayed by Michael Coombes, who finds his fragile stability shattered when his estranged brother Ewan, played by Pete Bird, returns from prison. While Matt is sensitive and hesitant, Ewan exerts a dangerous influence, drawing him into the same toxic criminal underworld he once tried to escape.

As Abigail and Matt's paths converge, Derelict pushes its characters into a spiral of vengeance, guilt and fractured loyalties. The film poses difficult questions about loss and whether closure can ever be found in the aftermath of violence. It is as much about isolation and emotional devastation as it is about crime and retribution, giving the narrative a compelling psychological edge.


Derelict also benefits from an impressive supporting cast including Ayvianna Snow (How to Kill Monsters, Bogieville) and Nick Cornwall (How to Train Your Dragon, Devils), alongside Coombes, Bird and Fulton. Their combined performances give weight to Zaurin's vision of a society scarred by grief and moral compromise. The result is a film that feels raw, unpredictable and unflinching, yet always rooted in human emotion.

The Blu-ray release from 101 Films includes a strong line-up of extras designed to give viewers further insight into the project. Special features include Invisible Basketball: The Making of Derelict, short film The Petting Zoo by Virginie Sélavy, the video essay No Easy Answer by George Daniel Lea, the original music video Shadow of My Bones by Mike Hoskins, as well as deleted scenes, trailers and a reversible sleeve featuring alternate poster art.

With its daring approach to structure and style, a narrative steeped in grief and vengeance, and performances that bring raw intensity to every frame, Derelict confirms Jonathan Zaurin as one of the most intriguing voices in British independent cinema today. Audiences will soon have the chance to discover it for themselves when it arrives on digital this September and Blu-ray later in the month.