Polterheist

Based upon the original short this feature length film shows the originality that UK independent film making can still provide. Taking the base premise of gangsters trying to locate missing money, the twists & narrative turns are layered well maintaining the films pace. Gritty shots of urban streets & explosive acts of violence show the influence of Get Carter (1971) The cast deliver good solid performances with Jo Mousley inhabiting the role of Alice Moon & the dead Frank exceptionally well. Sid Akbar Ali & Jamie Cymbal are a great pair of mid level gangsters. The character of Uday (played by Pushpinder Chani) is another level of deranged & outlandish violence; as such he is probably the least believable character. Gun, knife & cricket bat stand-offs pepper the drama with darkly comic dialogue & action (especially paying for parking ...) The visual effect of ghosts is particularly well conceived & executed. It is thanks to video-on-demand, Netflix, Amazon & other streaming services that smaller films like this can get the greater audience they deserve. And this is definitely a film that is worthy of viewing. It is to the great credit of the cast & crew that films like this can be made, & I look forward to seeing more from director David Gilbank. (I can only imagine what he could have done with just a tenth [£4 million] of the budget for the 2000 version of Get Carter!)