Protein

With no expectations, this gem came on steeped in the mundane nature of life in a Welsh small town filled with those who never made it out, and their bleak prospects of anything better. The dialogue was sparse and to the point, in pure UK idiom and Welsh accents, each of which would warrant a USA audience needing subtitles. There are many layers to this movie beyond the veneer of dense village idiots trying to be big-time gangsters and oblivious to the very damaged vet recently arrived in their town. Almost all effort in character development was saved for the two detectives, with most other characters barely fleshed-out cartoon villains. While the plot was reasonably straightforward with no great surprises, the movie was lifted by the dialogue and conversations, many of which were pure UK comedy at its understated best.

The Guardian described this new director as a 'cokehead Mike Leigh' and they're not wrong. It's a provocative film, and some scenes are hard to watch, but it's also subtle, thoughtful and often very funny. Some of the dialogue between amateur drug dealers is hilarious, bringing relief to the violence. The main actor delivers a brilliantly understated performance. I can't remember when a main character ever had less lines of dialogue or less desire to express himself, and the result is quite mesmeric. I think this director is one to watch. Looking forward to seeing what he's going to do next. See this film x.

"Protein" is a gritty, blood-soaked drama starring Sion (Craig Russell), an ex-soldier returned from Afghanistan, haunted by PTSD and armed with some unwelcome new skills.

Now employed at a gym as a cleaning-boy, he falls in with a Welsh gang of drug dealers where toxic masculinity, violence, and "protein powder" blend into something queasily bloody.

There's no denying that the hybrid of horror/drama and sport-or rather, horror through sport-is emerging as cinema's new frontier, and "Protein" proves once again even cannibalism can double as biting social commentary.

In a culture obsessed with perfect diets and the delusion of body and mental perfection, Tony Burke's film dives headlong into that madness.

The story folds together gym culture, dissembling bodies, and a faintly absurd noir aesthetic, crafting a low-budget thriller that's both grotesque and hypnotic.

It flirts shamelessly with horror's visceral edges while dismantling the conventions of the crime drama through a slow, methodical descent into darkness.

Its alternating tones-some characters tormented and introspective, others laugh-out-loud absurd-form its secret winning card.

"Protein" is far from flawless, but its imperfections make it more human, more unsettling. It's a revenge film in pure British style: steeped in noir aesthetics, unravelling with quiet menace and a lingering sense of moral decay.

The comparison with "Dead Man's Shoes," as many have made, feels almost impossible - though "Protein" flirts with a dark humour entirely absent from Meadows' bleak masterpiece.

Co-written with Mike Oughton and expanding Burke's 2014 short of the same name, this feature debut compels not for its carnage alone, but for how deftly Burke and Oughton entwine that violence within a richly textured noir framework reminiscent of 1990s British cinema.

Sion's moral ambiguity, the shadow-drenched cinematography, and the creeping sense of entrapment in a community rotting from within recall the bleak power of classic British crime cinema.

Sion becomes a veteran turned avenging spectre, dispensing a warped sense of justice where the law falters.

He's a broken man, becoming a metaphor for consumption, transformation, and control. His cannibalism isn't born of sadism but of delusion, a desperate act of self-repair.

This is noir not merely in look but in philosophy: the world is corrupt, redemption is tainted, and salvation is always paid for in blood.

Protein 2024

Plot is fairly straight forward. I'm Not giving any plots away so don't worry. Ex squaddie suffering from PTSD has now developed a taste for human flesh, which helps bulk up his frail & previously bullied body.

Throw in a gangland turf war and embittered cops and a lot and I mean a lot of tasty nibbles.

It's a revenge movie, without an obvious direction other than don't cross the sullen silent guy.

That's about it, it was viewed by one of our gang rating it highly on the strength of a poor man's "Dead Man's Shoes". It is a bit, but it's not a patch on the aforementioned Shane Meadows classic.

Entertaining but very very silly 5/10

Highlight of the night was the resurrection of Berkeley Towers Film Night, except in a different venue 20 years later.

The premise of the film night was the 3 or 4 of a group of friends (acquaintances lol)who lived together, not in the biblical sense. They would democratically vote for a number of films and take aways on the night to entertain us. This was pre marriage and children.

Films tonight were chosen by Mike, democracy out of the window "it's Mike's Way or No Way".

Lozz was happy either way. Tonight was at his gaff so he wins with a night of stupidity and drunken banter and me, I was too tired to care.

Tonight starting at 5pm was the film Inside, an Australian prisoner, a bit like Porridge on steroids, that fizzled out due to the sound of me eating crisps , and poor enunciation from the actors (probably our collective deafness didn't help) 20 minutes in we binned it. What followed was the above mentioned "Protein" and the copious eating of pizza protein and the consuming of alcohol. It got to 9.30 and I was dead on my feet. So I was the first to bail out and off I went home to cycle to my comfy bed.

Leaving the guys to watch "Bring Her Back" which looked a far better option of our two early damn squibs.

Night guys hope you enjoyed the film. 9/10 for the film night, losing a point for the lateness of the hour (9.30 isn't late!)

Must do this again...