I didn't expect much, but I found it very entertaining and full of unexpected little twists. Well acted and written. This is a lower budget film but does not cut corners, austere natural locations, nothing fancy, very down to earth. Filmed in a very Pulp Fiction way, disconnected moments come together. If you enjoy the British gangster film, I believe you not be disappointed.
13 Reviews
Some of the bants are propah next level funny, mayte!
Weirdling_Wolf11 June 2022
After my second viewing, I strongly feel that Peter Stylianou's pleasingly gritty, blissfully expletive-laden UK gangster flick is entirely worthy of undiscovered midnight movie gem status! The increasingly warped entertainment value is largely due to the delicious vulgarity of Kris Johnson's feral performance as the sublimely unfiltered sociopathic thug Chris! Along with the bizarrely unheralded trash classic 'Dagenham' (2018), Peter Stylianou's hilariously potty-mouthed 'Who Needs Enemies' is due major B-Movie props, and some of the bants are propah next level funny, mayte! This is clearly more Mail on Sunday sleaze than studied Jean-Pierre Melville cool, but there's an undeniably spirted quality to the lad's performances, and an unrepentantly lurid savour to the text that effectively raised these insalubrious underworld shenanigans to that of a potential B-cult!
Quite a disturbing film
robdrummond14 June 2021
This film starts aa it intends to go on. Quite shocking plot - that we all know deep inside could be real - and the sub plots are equally gruesome
I have the film a low score because of the subject matter - but really the film is quite accomplished.
Sorry for the "story" as such but since this is "real life" i suppose its all part of our (humanities) pagent!
I have the film a low score because of the subject matter - but really the film is quite accomplished.
Sorry for the "story" as such but since this is "real life" i suppose its all part of our (humanities) pagent!
Amateur telling of grim story
ScottoMac18 December 2021
Feels like a film student movie: amateur actors; over edited w too many flashbacks & changing of the sequence of events etc; low budget; crappy script etc. Then there is the story itself: a very grim tale of paedophiles, rapists & murderers. Great that the worst of them get there comeuppance, but my sense is it is grim to try and gain shock value. I'd give it a miss if I were you. Nb: those giving 7-10 are clearly people associated with the film.
Tries a bit to hard
Saiph9023 August 2021
This was decent and the acting first class, the cinematography is exceptional so what is not to like? At times it seems they want to use every trick available, flashbacks, scenes played from a different angle, I think if they kept it simpler it would have made a better movie. I did spot the gaff when he said bullet then knife, surprised that was not spotted in editing.
Another solid British gangster film
djg3251413 September 2017
Most movies made in the U.S. nowadays are pretty low brow and seem to cater to Hollywood elites and their sophomoric sensibilities. Not so with the British and Australian film industry. Solid story, characters are well defined, actors are top notch though not widely known. The weaving of the story in chapters works well. I have been a fan of the British gangster films for quite sometime now. Pistols are held and fired as pistols, violence is in your face when it needs to be and subtle when it adds to the story. Nothing gratuitous about it. Good direction as well. If you are fan of the genre this is a little known gem.
A Different Type Of British Gangster Film
sportsbros80812 May 2016
I am a sucker for British Gangster movies so when I got a look at "Who Needs Enemies" I was pretty psyched. While most films in this genre kind of stick to a set storyline, Who Needs Enemies adds something more; awesome cinematography.
This film is beautifully shot and some of the scenes deserve to be framed and hung on a wall. Director, Peter Stylianou does an excellent job of framing and pacing and Andre Govia (cinematographer) wrings every bit of emotion out of each shot. The colors range from warm yellows and browns to cold blues and greys so seamlessly that it keeps the story going.
Now make no mistake, as beautiful as this film is, it is also incredibly violent. Something that I also like in my crime movies. The plot is one of old friends turning on each other and in the seedy underworld that pretty much means that someone has to die.
Tom Sheridan, played by Ian Pirie, is a gangster who owns a successful strip club in London. His old friend, Ian (played by Michael McKeil) rents out the club for a private party all seems well. Unfortunately, there are some unspeakable acts going on during the party and Tom decides to get revenge on his old mate.
Not to give too much away, but this feud starts an all out war on the streets of London as the body count rises.
The entire cast is not well known but they deliver solid performances. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are connected guys. Overall this is a beautifully violent film that takes the British Gangster genre to a new level. Very much recommended.
This film is beautifully shot and some of the scenes deserve to be framed and hung on a wall. Director, Peter Stylianou does an excellent job of framing and pacing and Andre Govia (cinematographer) wrings every bit of emotion out of each shot. The colors range from warm yellows and browns to cold blues and greys so seamlessly that it keeps the story going.
Now make no mistake, as beautiful as this film is, it is also incredibly violent. Something that I also like in my crime movies. The plot is one of old friends turning on each other and in the seedy underworld that pretty much means that someone has to die.
Tom Sheridan, played by Ian Pirie, is a gangster who owns a successful strip club in London. His old friend, Ian (played by Michael McKeil) rents out the club for a private party all seems well. Unfortunately, there are some unspeakable acts going on during the party and Tom decides to get revenge on his old mate.
Not to give too much away, but this feud starts an all out war on the streets of London as the body count rises.
The entire cast is not well known but they deliver solid performances. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are connected guys. Overall this is a beautifully violent film that takes the British Gangster genre to a new level. Very much recommended.
Excellent grown-up story with great twists, and turns.
face-819-9337263 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This is a great movie there is no way around that. Told in the shuffled "Pulp Fiction" style, and told very well. The entire cast are fantastic, and the story as it pulls you this way, and that is so very smooth. There are moments in this movie that are so well built up that once we get to the final crossroads of the story where all of the pieces are brought together you can feel the tension, and are on the edge of your seat wondering who will actually be walking away from this. This cast of characters is so well blended, but so very British and in the best way. I don't even have to tell you at this point, but yes I really did Enjoy this movie, and would whole heartedly recommend it to every adult out there. This movie is not for kids, it's not a slasher film, but the language, and content is just not what kids should see just yet, but of course that is dealers choice. Heavy on the language, with a real salting of violence, and very adult content, but if those are things you can handle, then have at it, and you will be glad you did.
Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant
jlm-gems30 November 2013
What can i say about this film but go and see it, brilliant acting, brilliant Directing, Brilliant soundtrack, Brilliant story line everything in a film i like. Great British film making at its best. Will keep you gripped all the way through was busting for the toilet for the last half hour but sat tight, did not want to miss anything. Don t want to give away much about the story it will spoil it for you. Graphic, epic, funny and surprising. that s all i am going to say Was at VUE cinema shepherds bush last night with cast and crew what a great bunch of people another reason why everyone should go and see the movie. all the best to cast and crew the film will be a great success.
Excellent
orcadiansmeghead15 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I have not read the other reviews of this film (there are currently only 2 others) but I was losing my faith in these 'typical' London gangster films until this just came along...
Many of the actors in this you'll have never seen in anything else which makes them far more believable than they would be otherwise. They are all very good actors too - far better than the usual Danny Dyer copycats. .....some seriously dangerous and warped characters in this film too and I can tell you there are people out there just like these...
The film is about as violent, bloody and predictable as you'd like, (predictability is not an issue) but it is presented as a serious of chapters, shown in non chronological order very much like Pulp Fiction. For anyone saying it is a rip off of Pulp Fiction, well, I have seen few films in the last 20 years which have been presented in a similar fashion while actually being able to pull it off. Each time a chapter ended, I was praying the end credits were not about to appear!! 10/10
Many of the actors in this you'll have never seen in anything else which makes them far more believable than they would be otherwise. They are all very good actors too - far better than the usual Danny Dyer copycats. .....some seriously dangerous and warped characters in this film too and I can tell you there are people out there just like these...
The film is about as violent, bloody and predictable as you'd like, (predictability is not an issue) but it is presented as a serious of chapters, shown in non chronological order very much like Pulp Fiction. For anyone saying it is a rip off of Pulp Fiction, well, I have seen few films in the last 20 years which have been presented in a similar fashion while actually being able to pull it off. Each time a chapter ended, I was praying the end credits were not about to appear!! 10/10
Easily the TOP Gangster movie ever made.
Gemma_Philips15 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The acting by everybody is Oscar winning performances and this is rare in the film industry. I have only seen it once and it's in this gem of a film.
It's one of those films you never want to end, it starts off immediately with a lightening pace and just gets faster. It distorts time. After 20 minutes I thought it had been on for an hour. The ending will make most men cry so make sure you're not with mates and get ready for the most psychedelic roller coaster since the film, Who Needs Enemies ... was made in 2013.
If you liked Scarface with Pachino, Goodfellas, Casino, The Godfather, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels combine all those films together and remember your enjoyment from each - now multiply it by 500.
It is that good. I don't have a Bluray player but I had to have one to own this film on Bluray and so I bought one - and I'm still waiting for it to be released on Bluray. I check most days for a sign of a Bluray release. If I was going to take to a desert island the biggest DVD collection in history OR the single film called Who Needs Enemies, there would be no contest. This one film is what I would take and packed between two pillows in case it gets damaged.
This reminds me. The DVD is so valuable I bought another copy just in case one gets damaged. Somebody tried to watch my DVD without asking and I have not spoke to them since, everybody knows not go near my Who Needs Enemies DVD.
It's one of those films you never want to end, it starts off immediately with a lightening pace and just gets faster. It distorts time. After 20 minutes I thought it had been on for an hour. The ending will make most men cry so make sure you're not with mates and get ready for the most psychedelic roller coaster since the film, Who Needs Enemies ... was made in 2013.
If you liked Scarface with Pachino, Goodfellas, Casino, The Godfather, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels combine all those films together and remember your enjoyment from each - now multiply it by 500.
It is that good. I don't have a Bluray player but I had to have one to own this film on Bluray and so I bought one - and I'm still waiting for it to be released on Bluray. I check most days for a sign of a Bluray release. If I was going to take to a desert island the biggest DVD collection in history OR the single film called Who Needs Enemies, there would be no contest. This one film is what I would take and packed between two pillows in case it gets damaged.
This reminds me. The DVD is so valuable I bought another copy just in case one gets damaged. Somebody tried to watch my DVD without asking and I have not spoke to them since, everybody knows not go near my Who Needs Enemies DVD.
THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON!
nogodnomasters20 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is an interesting crime drama. The film opens with three North London criminals in a car. Chris (Kris Johnson) and Tony (Tom Carey) kill Mark (Glen Fox) for reasons unknown. At this point the film divides itself into 8 chapters. Chapter one starts before the killing and leads up to it. It opens with Tom (Ian Pirie) being killed as our threesome search his home looking for...
Chapter two starts before Tom was killed so we now have an idea what they were looking for. At this points the chapters run somewhat chronological, sometimes going back a bit in time so they can work in another plot point and save on film by reshowing the same scene.
I enjoyed the characters and the way the story was oddly structured. However, once the mystery was over and the plot was moving forward, the film went from interesting to run of the mill.
Certainly worth a rental for crime drama fans.
Parental Guide: Excessive F-sakes. No sex or nudity. Off screen rape.
Chapter two starts before Tom was killed so we now have an idea what they were looking for. At this points the chapters run somewhat chronological, sometimes going back a bit in time so they can work in another plot point and save on film by reshowing the same scene.
I enjoyed the characters and the way the story was oddly structured. However, once the mystery was over and the plot was moving forward, the film went from interesting to run of the mill.
Certainly worth a rental for crime drama fans.
Parental Guide: Excessive F-sakes. No sex or nudity. Off screen rape.
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