Films > Film Reviews
The Intent
22/08/16
The Intent is a heavy and gritty drama showing a very dark side to the urban culture of London. Before going to watch it I wasn’t sure what to expect as I didn’t even watch the trailer. A very ballsy move to make before going to see a film, but my girlfriend said it would be somewhat like the series Top Boy and that was enough to motivate me out of the house (or at least into a different chair). My first impression was “Oh great, a movie glamourising the hard life of gangsters”, which in recent years I believe has became very fashionable and cringey. However it didn't take long for me to change my opinion. Yes there were probably as much gunshots as talking, and some moments just seemed like a trap music video, but as the movie progressed, showed more about the individuals' lives and completely twisted the plot, it was amazing.
It starts off with the main character as a child playing with a gun, sending a very powerful message. It then cuts into the future almost like it was halfway into a story, not giving you any more background on the characters. Of course I won’t reveal any spoilers but the movie was basically about a group of petty criminals in London realising they weren’t making much money and deciding to up their game by robbing a corner shop. It doesn’t take long until they’re hooked, making serious cash. At some points the suspense was unbearable and is now making me want to say sod it and just reveal everything… BUT I WON’T, you’re just going to have to go watch it.There wasn’t even one moment of shoddy acting which can be fairly common in movies about gangsters. In fact the actors were almost too believable, especially Dylan Duffus. I seriously recommend you also check out the documentary about Birmingham that he stars in, One Mile Away. One other thing that made this drama so beautifully gritty was the photography, truly capturing the gloomy and hard side to London which nearly seems so alien in little old Norwich. Don’t get me wrong I know there is a few scary turns ‘up city’, but the likelihood you’re going to be shot by someone who isn’t a farmer is fairly unlikely. So yes, I definitely enjoyed every moment of it and couldn’t find much to complain about.
If I had to explain this film to someone, I’d explain it like a cocktail recipe, using other films and series as the ingredients. Add a shot of Scarface and Kidulthood, top it with Top Boy, give a stir, pour Juice into the mix and garnish it with the Grime musical 1day (which Dylan Duffus also stars in).