Shank (2009)

Director:

Simon Pearce
(more)

Writers:

Darren Flaxstone (written by) and
Christian Martin (written by)

Release Date:

11 September 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Worlds collide between three strangers divided by economics, social status, gender, race and sexuality

Plot:

A closeted teenage street punk takes up with the latest roughed-up gay victim of his bullying gang, which does not set well with the gang's drugged-up, brotherly leader.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Gay | Student | Beating | Gang Member

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Wayne Virgo	...	Cal
Marc Laurent	...	Olivier
Tom Bott	...	Jonno
Alice Payne	...	Nessa
Garry Summers	...	Scott
Bernie Hodges	...	Will
Louise Fearnside	...	Dayna (as Louise Anne Fearnside)
Oliver Park	...	Gang Member 1
Earl Virgo	...	Gang Member 2
Felicia Pearce	...	Class Mate
Christian Martin	...	David / Radio Presenter
Ian Rayer-Smith	...	Muscle Man
Karen Partridge	...	Radio Presenter
Romy Taylor	...	Extra and Background (as Remy Taylor)
James Collins	...	Extra and Background
Lauren Ponsford	...	Extra and Background
Corinne Riley	...	Extra and Background
Hannah Lewis	...	Extra and Background
Kevin Thomas Haines	...	Extra and Background
Hannah Jones	...	Extra and Background
Sean Morris	...	Extra and Background
Theo Melling	...	Extra and Background
Nina Rice	...	Extra and Background
Darren Flaxstone	...	Extra and Background

Directed by
Simon Pearce
Christian Martin		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Darren Flaxstone		(written by) and
Christian Martin		(written by)

Produced by
Chris Broughton	....	co-producer
Darren Flaxstone	....	co-producer
Christian Martin	....	producer
Robert Shulevitz	....	producer

Original Music by
Barnaby Taylor

Film Editing by
Darren Flaxstone

Casting by
Bernie Hodges

Art Direction by
Jez Hunziker

Costume Design by
Stewart Meachem

Makeup Department
Grace Wessels	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Chris Broughton	....	production manager (as Christopher Broughton)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Jones	....	second assistant director
Robert Shulevitz	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Andy Devine	....	dubbing mixer
Xander McGrouther	....	sound designer
Xander McGrouther	....	sound recordist
Kayode Ngozi	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Paul Dudbridge	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Wing Kit Hui	....	assistant grip
Sean Humphreys	....	camera assistant
Adele Helen Lovett	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Adele Lovett)
Adele Helen Lovett	....	lighting design: Factory (as Adele Lovett)
Simon Pearce	....	camera operator
Sam Reeves	....	grip
Andy Squibbs	....	camera assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Aaron Onuora	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Ryan Brooks	....	colorist
Jake Holly	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
J. Knight and the Insiders	....	musicians

Other crew
Paddy Beirne	....	production runner
Tom Burgess	....	accountant: S.M.B.C. Business Management
Elle Farnham	....	script supervisor
Jennifer Hegarty	....	pre-production coordinator
Bernie Hodges	....	drama coach
Jeremy Jobson	....	web production
Andrew Leen	....	insurance: Performance
Glenn Lewis	....	title designer
Dan Webber	....	production runner

Production Companies

• FAQs

Distributors

• Parasol Pictures Releasing (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Arti Film (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Bounty Films (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• GM Films (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Optimale (2009) (France) (all media)
• Out of Africa Entertainment (2010) (South Africa) (DVD)
• TLA Releasing (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• TLA Releasing (2009) (USA) (all media)

Other Companies

• Parasol Post  edit facilities (as Parasol Post Bristol)
• Films 59, Bristol  grip and lighting
• C.K. Martin  low loader
• FAVA Rental  camera hire
• Gay Gourmet  catering
• Performance  insurance
• S.M.B.C. Business Management  accounting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content and violence including a brutal rape, pervasive drug use and language

Runtime:

94 min | UK:89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45682) | Australia:R (2010) | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Bristol, England, UK

Company:

FAQs

Quotes:

Olivier:So, tell me, how does a nice boy like you get to hang around with such a bunch of thugs?

Promising but Ultimately Disappointing

Shank tells the story of a closeted gang member Cal (Wayne Virgo) who is deeply in love with his best friend Jonno (Tom Bott). When Cal stops a senseless beating of college student Olivier (Marc Laurent), Jonno and his girlfriend Nessa (Alice Payne) seek retribution for what they perceive as Cal's betrayal. Their anger grows and tragic consequences ensue when they discover Cal's secret.

Shank is set in a world not usually explored in gay cinema and as a coming out story there is a lot to be admired here. Unfortunately certain aspects of this film never work and that should have been apparent to the film makers early on.

Virgo and Laurent are young, attractive and naked for most of the film but have no chemistry together. At times the audience roared with laughter at Laurent's soppy glances, terrible timing and absurd delivery. Despite what another reviewer has said, this did not "break the tension". These moments simply drew sharp attention to the amateurish mistakes made by the director and the problems with the script.

Marc Laurent's performance as Olivier was dreadful. He might be a passable actor in his native French, but he lacked the experience and talent to give a nuanced performance in English. He simply couldn't convey the necessary combination of vulnerability and strength that would make him desirable to Cal and the audience. I didn't believe that the street tough would go for someone like Olivier.

In contrast, the sexual tension between Cal and Jonno was electric. Tom Bott was completely believable as the sexy and dangerous Jonno. Bott's performance was flawless, subtly portraying a range of complex conflicting emotions.

Alice Payne turned in a promising performance as Nessa, and Wayne Virgo in the lead managed to hold the film together.

Near the end of the film a series of events occur that simply didn't seem plausible in the grander scope of the movie. We are asked to believe that a well-educated adult would act in a manner that contradicts common sense. His decisions are made doubly confusing with the final (contrived) revelation. There are no realistic consequences to the any of the character's actions. We are also subjected to some heavy handed imagery and a few film school clichés.

If you're into queer cinema you will likely find something to enjoy in this first effort from director Simon Pearce. However, I think most audiences, gay or straight, won't find the movie nearly as compelling as it should have been.