Tony (I) (2009)

A thriller centered on a serial killer in a rundown London suburb.

Director:

Gerard Johnson

Writer:

Gerard Johnson

Stars:

Peter Ferdinando, Frank Boyce, Lorenzo Camporese

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Ferdinando	...	Tony
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Boyce	...	Publican
Lorenzo Camporese	...	Alex
Cyrus Desir	...	Dealer
Lucy Flack	...	Prostitute
Ian Groombridge	...	Police Inspector
Ricky Grover	...	Davey's Dad Paul
Ish	...	Man in Porno Shop
Eddie Johnson	...	Pub Regular
Mike Johnson	...	Pub Regular
Darren Jones	...	Mick
Greg Kam	...	DVD Seller
Jill Keen	...	Madam
Sam Kempster	...	Davey
Ian Kilgannon	...	TV Licence Inspector

Storyline

A thriller centered on a serial killer in a rundown London suburb.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | social realism | talking to self in mirror | inarticulate | severed foot | 

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Taglines:

Keeping a neighbourhood watch.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

AbbottVision [GB] Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tony - London Serial Killer

Filming Locations:

Soho, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Abbott Vision, Chump Films, Dan McCulloch Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of Tony (2005)

User Reviews

Beware of who you overlook

This is a fantastic film. Well shot, well written, well edited, well acted,effective soundtrack...and short enough to leave you wanting more.

I cant say enough good about this film, as its one of those films that is so good that it takes on a life of its own. As all great art, this is not a 'horror film' but a sociological reflection of our times.

The story introduces us to a lonely man who lives by himself and tries to form relationships with the vagrants and oddball characters but due to his inability to communicate properly, which we read into as shyness, years of repression, denial he ends up killing them.

Humour is used as a temporary escape valve from the horror we see, and actually, the comedy is a real highlight of this dark piece, as we are challenged to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. This is nothing new, but it added to the humanity of the piece.

To be honest, there are a few things that I have to criticize for this piece but these more loving embellishments than anything else. For example, the film could be longer as we are left hanging at the end and wanting more.without giving the game away, if tony had succeeded in his goals, and then given due punishment, it would have created the next layer of depth that the film is surely deserving.Also small symbolic indicators, without being too blatant would have added to revealing his past, that even if the film chose not to express, could add clues hinting at the person that Tony once was.Also could have done some scenes of him eating alone.

However with respect to the directors artistic choices, I believe leaving certain issues unresolved allows the viewer to imagine and ponder more about an epidemic that wont go away, provoking deeper contemplation. So in this respect, it is an intelligent artistic decision which is in hindsight, to be respected.

Like i said, great films are the ones that have a life of their own, not dictated by comparisons although comparisons are necessary to explain them, once you see the film, it goes far beyond that. this is a character study of a creature in pain. A product of its environment and even a sociological reflection of the dysfunction of its environment. As all good art does, makes us reflect and think in the here and now. And what we as people, society , generation, have become. Definitive stuff.