Bonded by Blood (2010)

In 1995, drug suppliers and career criminals Tony Tucker, Patrick Tate and Craig Rolfe were blasted to death by a shot gun whilst waiting in a Range Rover in Rettendon, Essex. The film ... See full summary »

Director:

Sacha Bennett

Writers:

Sacha Bennett, Graeme Muir

Stars:

Vincent Regan, Kierston Wareing, Terry Stone

Cast

Credited cast:
Vincent Regan	...	Mickey Steele
Kierston Wareing	...	Kate Smith
Terry Stone	...	Tony Tucker
Neil Maskell	...	Craig Rolfe
Senem Temiz	...	VIP Guest
Michael Socha	...	Donny Svenson
Tamer Hassan	...	Pat Tate
Siobhan Hewlett	...	Julia
Alex Macqueen	...	Prison Governor (as Alex MacQueen)
Adam Deacon	...	Darren Nicholls
Dave Legeno	...	Jack Whomes
Lucy Brown	...	Anna Richards
Rebecca Ferdinando	...	Mary (as Rebecca Walsh)
Simon Phillips	...	Officer Tolands
Susie Amy	...	Donna Jagger

Storyline

In 1995, drug suppliers and career criminals Tony Tucker, Patrick Tate and Craig Rolfe were blasted to death by a shot gun whilst waiting in a Range Rover in Rettendon, Essex. The film charts their rise to become the most prolific dealers and feared criminals in the south of England, maintaining the hold on their empire with fear and violence until their untimely death.

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Plot Keywords:

violence | mass execution | blood | evil man

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Taglines:

The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing but the F**king Truth!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 September 2010 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gateway Films, Prime Focus

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor, Terry Stone, Plays the character Tony tucker in both this and 'Rise of the Footsoldier', which is also based on the Essex boys murders. In fact, a lot of actors who appear in this movie also feature in Footsoldier but in different character parts. Dave Legano plays Jack Wholmes in this film, but played Big John in Footsoldier. Neil Maskel (Craig rolfe) played the role of Darren Nicholls in footsoldier.

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Goofs

When Craig Rolfe is arguing with his wife at their home he open and slams shut the fridge, several of the fridge magnets are clearly visible and relate to films and events that took place well after 1994, in the top left hand corner you can clearly see a fridge magnet of Doug the talking dog from the movie Up.

User Reviews

Disappointing but not absolutely terrible.

Didn't know a third film had been made about this subject but whilst stuck indoors waiting on a delivery (DHL late again) I just watched Bonded by Blood. First impressions after having just viewed the film are that it was not very good. Not totally terrible but only really worth watching if you have absolutely nothing better to do and want something to occupy your interest.

As has been picked up by one of the better revues of this film on here my main criticism is that the actor portraying Darren Nicholls (Adam Deacon) is annoying and unconvincing throughout. You spend a lot of the movie wanting to smack the petulant little fake scowl off of his face (the character not the actor) and you certainly don't empathise with him or indeed anyone else in the film.

I also concur that Craig Fairbrass's portrayal of Pat Tate was more convincing and accurate than that of Tamer Hassan. Hassan's Tate seemed too considered (albeit still a bully, steroid using f##k up) at times when the reality is he was far from that. Not a terrible performance just not as good as the one that Fairbrass did where he nailed the character in Rise of the Footsoldier.

The actresses used all seemed out of their depth if they were called upon to do more than be giggling fluff. I don't personally have a problem with that as this is a bloke's film and don't particularly want it ruined with dialogue about the wife's/girlfriends perspective. Suffice to say though the little acting that was required by any of the actresses was poor to awful. The only actress who was convincing at all was the "tart" in the nurse's outfit who was passenger in the car crash with Tate (Hassan).

I liked Neil Maskell's performance as Craig Rolfe, and this was a lot closer to reality than the one portrayed in Rise of the Footsoldier by Roland Manookian, although I don't necessarily think that was down to bad acting by Roland, just that the character was different (inaccurate?) in that script.

Terry Stone rocks up once again to play Tony Tucker and although his first attempt in Rise of the Footsoldier was a bit too cartoon this version seems a little undecided? To be fair I'm not going to criticise the fella as he is still learning his game in the acting world and how many different ways can you portray a one dimensional character like the fictionalised Tony Tucker? I'm sure the script called for more of the same but lose the wig.

Finally the Bernard O'Mahoney character played by Johnny Palmiero seemed totally miscast? It's not that it was a terrible performance by Palmiero but that it bore absolutely no resemblance to the real Bernard O'Mahoney in accent or stature. I much preferred reading Bernard O'Mahoney's books than watching this film.

I give the film 4/10. Just my opinion and I suggest you watch it yourself and make your own mind up. If you have the time spare of course.