Best way I can describe it is..it's a short story based on a real event. Nothing happens. The acting was good idk what the others are talking about. It's going to be easy to forget..but I mean a good peek inside a true mobster that escaped prison. So if your a gangster/mob buff I'm sure you'd appreciate it.
27 Reviews
Brings a whole new low to low budget
malcolmgsw17 May 2021
Essentially filmed in two rooms and the back of a van featuring anonymous actors. In real life Mitchell's body was trussed up in chicken wire and dumped in the English Channel. This is what they should have done with this film.
How do you spell "maniac?"
nogodnomasters6 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Frank Mitchell (Diarmaid Murtagh) escapes from prison and holds up in a house. He is attended by John (Morgan Watkins) who attempts to keep Frank in-line and alive. Frank wants to go party with the Krays, a sure way to get captured.
The film was low budget. We see Frank, John, and eventually Lisa in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom of the same house. The film is a drama about life with Frank. Very boring.
Guide: F-word. Sex. No nudity.
The film was low budget. We see Frank, John, and eventually Lisa in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom of the same house. The film is a drama about life with Frank. Very boring.
Guide: F-word. Sex. No nudity.
Don't bother it's dire.
grahamhart-5533527 January 2020
laughable acting low low budget
ferdmalenfant27 January 2020
Just a couple of words on this trash...the first review is 10/10 I watched the movie and I have to say that the "person(s)" associated with the film who placed this first rating of 10/10 GOOD LUCK! It's a terrible, boring, low budget, badly acted piece of crappolla! What a joke.
Absolutely rubbish film totally disappointing
darrenoc-253215 February 2020
DRIVEL
peterpdoyle20 February 2020
I downloaded this on Sky Box Office and only managed to watch 40 minutes of it before I gave up. The greatest waste of money I ever spent. Do not under any circumstances waste any of you time or money on this rubbish.
AVOID
nz0-5-99649813 January 2021
Don't waste your time or money
cathyannemoore-661966 April 2020
Downloaded as a rental on Sky. Waste of money. Watched about 30 minutes waiting and hoping for it to get better. Maybe there was a story to tell but I couldn't hang on in there to find out. The actors were not good. And why gave the Krays in the title? I usually enjoy films depicting the 1960s very disappointed.
Don't bother.
julian15812 August 2020
Great film
honkyswithhumility29 December 2020
IMDB ratings are often totally out of kilter. This is a good film. The actor playing Frank gets the character's mood of menace, despair and manic japes just right. The sense of claustrophobia and tension is palpable.
All the attention is on the three characters in the hideout flat Frank his minder John and later Lisa the woman hired to calm Mitchell down. The dynamic between the three characters is well written. It is interesting that the Krays are only peripheral and only appear on the phone giving orders.
Ignore the bad reviews and give this a chance
Ignore the bad reviews and give this a chance
You Can't Set Fire to a Burning Man
richardchatten10 February 2022
The Krays themselves appear only fleetingly in what is basically a three-hander 90% of which takes place in a free house lovingly decked out with sixties knickknacks like a Toby jug and Bush portable radio.
The revelation in the closing credits that it originated as a play serves only to confirm a suspicion already long formed.
The revelation in the closing credits that it originated as a play serves only to confirm a suspicion already long formed.
A Fest of Swearing and Violence in a Flat.
hammondjh-0047913 September 2020
I've seen some rubbish quality films on the subject of the Kray twins and their associates, but for poor quality, ham acting and mockney accents this film deserves an Oscar. The actors must be asking themselves what they'd done wrong and who they'd upset to have such roles inflicted on them.
Just don't
debracurle24 January 2022
Tense Crime Thriller
popicon30 January 2020
Not the film you might expect based on the title. Good to see a British crime film that doesn't rely on cliched dialogue and stock characters. Instead we get a well acted exploration of the lives of three people under stress, trapped in a desperate situation. They face an uncertain future, with their fate in the hands of the notorious Kray twins.
I disagree that this is a bad film
lanceblades15 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I rather enjoyed it. Low budget that's true, but the film has a real sixties feel and explores a brief relationship between three characters, Frank the escaped prisoner, John charged with looking after him and Lisa, the girl brought in to keep him entertained. There is a claustrophobia in this tight little scenario and the movie is character driven and quite intense. Fairly true to the real story, the ending is both inevitable and sad. I'd say it's worth a watch if you like '60's gangster movies. You won't get to see the Krays though, they're the reason for the film but they don't feature because it's not necessary, the only hand they had in this entire tragedy was the escape of Frank Mitchell and his murder.
Enjoyable watch
barrygilbertjohnson27 November 2021
The Mad Axeman
geoffreyharris200327 May 2021
After watching this film I logged on to Imdb to look at the reviews. I was quite surprised by all the negative reviews. It was no Oscar winner I would agree but not a bad watch on the whole. It tells the true story of Frank Mitchell a career criminal hard man who escapes from prison and holds up in a safe house provided by the notorious Kray twins. I thought the acting by the three main characters was not as as bad as others had stated, and I quite enjoyed it.
Gripping movie
cvishwanath12 December 2023
This was a very offbeat theme for me. That itself was a plus for me. Further, I couldn't help feeling sympathetic to all the 3 lead characters. Though almost all action is confined to a flat, never did I feel that the movie dragged. The actor who played the escaped felon lived up to his top billing. I wish the ending had been a bit different, but it was probably the only logically way to end the movie. I am still wondering about the motivations and the ultimate fate of the piano-playing character.
The Christmastime backdrop and the prodigal son motif felt overly sentimental but watching as I was, a few days from Christmas, I enjoyed it in a guilty fashion.
The Christmastime backdrop and the prodigal son motif felt overly sentimental but watching as I was, a few days from Christmas, I enjoyed it in a guilty fashion.
Not that bad
pez415631 July 2020
After the opening 5 mins I was moments from switching it off. The stereotype cockney hard man gangster accent down the phone made me think it's been made by 12 year olds. But I gave it a chance and actually quite enjoyed. It grew on me as it went along.
A Play for Today
Andu00725 September 2022
People with some knowledge or interest in the notorious Kray twins will know of 'Mad Axeman' Frank Mitchell but those who are into their gangster/mob films, this isn't for you.
This reminds me for those old enough, of a series called A Play for Today.
This is set in a flat in East London in the 60s, a place where Dartmoor escapee Frank Mitchell was holed up by the Krays.
I've read a couple of books on these times & knew of Mitchell & this being a British film, I'd thought I'd give it a watch.
After 10mins or so I did wonder if I should continue but I'm glad I stuck with it.
This is not a gangster action film but a depiction of the time of Mitchell's 'freedom' This is filmed entirely in a small flat, so not what we would call freedom as such.
It is well acted & the tension can be felt between them.
It is debatable on why the Krays thought it was a good idea to spring this man from Dartmoor (apparently the only man to successfully do so) Sad & pointless, some might say.
It's a good watch in it's own artistic way, be patient & give it a go especially if you are interested in these times.
This reminds me for those old enough, of a series called A Play for Today.
This is set in a flat in East London in the 60s, a place where Dartmoor escapee Frank Mitchell was holed up by the Krays.
I've read a couple of books on these times & knew of Mitchell & this being a British film, I'd thought I'd give it a watch.
After 10mins or so I did wonder if I should continue but I'm glad I stuck with it.
This is not a gangster action film but a depiction of the time of Mitchell's 'freedom' This is filmed entirely in a small flat, so not what we would call freedom as such.
It is well acted & the tension can be felt between them.
It is debatable on why the Krays thought it was a good idea to spring this man from Dartmoor (apparently the only man to successfully do so) Sad & pointless, some might say.
It's a good watch in it's own artistic way, be patient & give it a go especially if you are interested in these times.
It was ok
eddieryan-661444 September 2020
Wasnt to impressed with the story or acting, sad ending to poor axeman frank mitchell he did not deserve to be murdered he was harmless really, why they didnt just leave him go hes own way i dont know, he was no threat to anyone, true story of the mad krays glad they were locked up for life should of happened years before it did.
A compelling human drama.
neilr-6789121 January 2020
You might well think that yet another film about the activities of the Kray Gang receiving a DVD release would be an exercise in once again celebrating the supposedly legendary status of the twins. Neither the title of the film or the cover of the DVD provide any evidence to the contrary. But both the title and artwork are misleading however. Surprisingly given the subject matter the actual story is a subtle and complex study of the relationships between the three main characters in the film, each one caught up, often reluctantly in the world of the Krays.
The story deals with true events surrounding the escape of Krays associate Frank Mitchell from Dartmoor prison in December 1966. The Krays mastermind the escape, then hide Frank and his minder John in a London flat. Later they provide him with a female escort
The screenplay was adapted by Gill Adams from her original award winning stage play 'Jump to Cow Heaven' and though extended and altered it shares the emotional impact of the theatrical version. Frank Mitchell, John and Lisa are not the stock characters commonly portrayed in this genre. Perhaps surprisingly the film is as much a love story as it is a portrayal of gangland life.
The three principal actors all give excellent performances. The role of escaped convict Frank Michell played by Diarmaid Murtagh is a particularly difficult one, as he is often an annoying and sometimes violent presence, who is at times difficult to empathise with. But by the end of the film we have a very different impression of him. He like John, his minder and Lisa his escort are victims and prisoners caught up in the orbit of the Krays. Morgan Watkins brings great warmth and subtlety to a world weary John. However I think the outstanding performance in the film belongs to Elen Rhys as the escort brought in to entertain and pacify Frank. Though outwardly confident her vulnerability is also evident and both aspects of her personality are skilfully and convincingly presented.
First time director Will Kerley, known best previously for his work in opera also directed the original stage play and his familiarity with the characters ensures that the nuances in their personalities and their developing relationships are well handled.
The Krays themselves are minor characters in the story, though their uneasy and ultimately malign presence are constantly apparent. The tension builds as it becomes clear that Frank's dreams of a pardon freedom look unlikely to be fulfilled and we have sympathy for his predicament, that of John and particularly the frightened Lisa. An emotionally rich and carefully crafted film.
The story deals with true events surrounding the escape of Krays associate Frank Mitchell from Dartmoor prison in December 1966. The Krays mastermind the escape, then hide Frank and his minder John in a London flat. Later they provide him with a female escort
The screenplay was adapted by Gill Adams from her original award winning stage play 'Jump to Cow Heaven' and though extended and altered it shares the emotional impact of the theatrical version. Frank Mitchell, John and Lisa are not the stock characters commonly portrayed in this genre. Perhaps surprisingly the film is as much a love story as it is a portrayal of gangland life.
The three principal actors all give excellent performances. The role of escaped convict Frank Michell played by Diarmaid Murtagh is a particularly difficult one, as he is often an annoying and sometimes violent presence, who is at times difficult to empathise with. But by the end of the film we have a very different impression of him. He like John, his minder and Lisa his escort are victims and prisoners caught up in the orbit of the Krays. Morgan Watkins brings great warmth and subtlety to a world weary John. However I think the outstanding performance in the film belongs to Elen Rhys as the escort brought in to entertain and pacify Frank. Though outwardly confident her vulnerability is also evident and both aspects of her personality are skilfully and convincingly presented.
First time director Will Kerley, known best previously for his work in opera also directed the original stage play and his familiarity with the characters ensures that the nuances in their personalities and their developing relationships are well handled.
The Krays themselves are minor characters in the story, though their uneasy and ultimately malign presence are constantly apparent. The tension builds as it becomes clear that Frank's dreams of a pardon freedom look unlikely to be fulfilled and we have sympathy for his predicament, that of John and particularly the frightened Lisa. An emotionally rich and carefully crafted film.
Giving a 7 rating for the sound track
samcbrid6 December 2021
While the story just creeps along the souls track was enjoyable. I also like seeing the props and wardrobe from the 60's . There is also one scene where Lisa is seducing Frank that's memorable. It held my attention so that's actually saying a lot because normally if we aren't impressed with a program we don't bother watching (the privilege of having more content than any one person could possibly need).
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