Attack the Block (2011)

Note: occasionally, depending on what computer/browser I write on, this blog will slip in and out of US and UK English. I really couldn’t care less about this. If it bothers you, I don’t care.

Aliens invade a tower block in South London. The only thing holding them off are a local gang, led by Moses (John Boyega), helped by Sam (Jodie Whittaker), a nurse they mugged earlier that evening.

One of the earliest things I knew about this film was that it was produced by Edgar Wright, director of three perfect movies (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), and that he and the director, Joe Cornish, did some rewrite work on Spielberg’s Tintin movie (which I’m really looking forward to). In a way, it’s as much of a throwback to 80s movies as Super 8, but recognises that the idealised innocence of childhood as portrayed in ET is not reality for many youths in a modern British setting. It’s a fun horror comedy, never letting up in pace even towards the end where the potential shortcomings of the script (the lack of explanation for the creatures) could be a problem.

The small budget is spread thinly but effectively, the chief expenses being the alien design and costumes (which are always dark except for some glowing teeth) and a few key set-pieces. Instead, most of the fear and humour is sold on the atmosphere, aided by the fireworks (it’s set on bonfire night) and the characters’ reactions. The cast of young unknowns excel at embodying their characters, being both rebellious yet loveable, being forced by their situation (both in society and in this film) to live beyond their years.

Filling out the rest of the film are the side characters. Nick Frost plays type well as stoner Ron, keeping his long hair from Paul; Luke Treadaway provides further comic relief as middle class stoner wannabe gangster Brewis (I know a few of those); and finally, another, human, antagonist in the form of Hi-Hatz (Jumayn Hunter), Ron’s boss that the gang of kids inadvertently crash into. The aliens provide an opportunity not only to be heroes but also to transcend and overcome their social status, breaking the cycle (at the start of the film, Hi-Hatz asks Moses to work for him). Of course the film’s subtext is more nuanced than this: the police at worst get in the way and at best don’t help at all. It’s convenient to ignore the underlying problems that cause gang culture and just crack down on the results (youth crime), and given the rioting in London this summer there’s an unanticipated extra level of social awareness. However, the film is never as overtly political as this, and the sub-plots really serve the purpose of padding the film out (the plot is still slightly stretched too far, even at a lean 88 minutes).

The cinematography is incredibly stylish, allowing for smooth transitions that gloss over any stretching of the suspension of disbelief without taking away from the plot. The camera-work does not feel like that of a first-time director. I like that British cinema has low enough stakes (and, until recently, was funded by the government a lot of the time) that it can give a new director freedom on a movie with an unconventional story that could so easily be tipped towards mass commercial appeal (see: Super 8). It’s not a perfect film by any means (I prefer Shaun of the Dead), but it is very difficult to find fault with it (I couldn’t, that’s why I’m stalling here).

Above all, Attack the Block is a fun time. Every element of it, from horror, science-fiction, comedy, to its socially conscious focus is finely tuned towards telling the story and making it engaging and funny. It’s British cinema at its best, able to reinvent a story by simply experimenting with unconventional protagonists that wouldn’t survive a big Hollywood machine.

Verdict: Strongly recommend.

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