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Down Terrace

  • 2009
  • R
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
Julia Deakin, Robin Hill, David Schaal, Michael Smiley, and Robert Hill in Down Terrace (2009)
 	A crime family looks to unmask the police informant in their midst who threatens to take down their business.
Play trailer2:37
2 Videos
86 Photos
Dark ComedyComedyCrimeDrama

A crime family looks to unmask the police informant in their midst who threatens to take down their business.A crime family looks to unmask the police informant in their midst who threatens to take down their business.A crime family looks to unmask the police informant in their midst who threatens to take down their business.

  • Director
    • Ben Wheatley
  • Writers
    • Ben Wheatley
    • Robin Hill
  • Stars
    • Robin Hill
    • Robert Hill
    • Julia Deakin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    4.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ben Wheatley
    • Writers
      • Ben Wheatley
      • Robin Hill
    • Stars
      • Robin Hill
      • Robert Hill
      • Julia Deakin
    • 32User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos2

    Down Terrace
    Trailer 2:37
    Down Terrace
    Down Terrace (Exclusive Clip)
    Clip 2:07
    Down Terrace (Exclusive Clip)
    Down Terrace (Exclusive Clip)
    Clip 2:07
    Down Terrace (Exclusive Clip)

    Photos85

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    Top cast17

    Edit
    Robin Hill
    Robin Hill
    • Karl
    Robert Hill
    Robert Hill
    • Bill
    Julia Deakin
    • Maggie
    David Schaal
    David Schaal
    • Eric
    Kerry Peacock
    • Valda
    Tony Way
    Tony Way
    • Garvey
    Mark Kempner
    • Berman
    Michael Smiley
    Michael Smiley
    • Pringle
    Gareth Tunley
    • Jon
    Kali Peacock
    • Helen Garvey
    Kitty Blue
    • Child
    Luke Hartney
    • Spitz
    Simon Smith
    • Musician
    Paul George
    • Musician
    Simon Walker
    • Musician
    Janet Hill
    • Mrs Pringle
    Sara Dee
    Sara Dee
    • Radio Reporter
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Ben Wheatley
    • Writers
      • Ben Wheatley
      • Robin Hill
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews32

    6.44.3K
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    Featured reviews

    6tomgillespie2002

    A test of endurance with flashes of brilliance

    Looking at the DVD cover of Down Terrace, you would be forgiven for dismissing it as yet another geezer-filled entry into the British crime genre, directed by somebody who watched Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) growing up and fancied themselves as capable of doing the same. Yet Ben Wheatley's debut feature goes out to do exactly the opposite, and instead of motor- mouthed crims with ridiculous nicknames and heists-gone-wrong, we get a kitchen-sink drama, at least for the first two-thirds, filmed almost entirely within the constraints of a run-of-the-mill house in Brighton.

    After a stint in prison, Karl (Robin Hill, who co-wrote the script with Wheatley) returns to the family home with his father Bill (Robert Hill, Robin's real-life father) to try and sniff out the rat who is threatening to bring down their criminal organisation. With the help of mother Mags (Julia Deakin), they invite various associates, including idiot club owner Garvey (Tony Way), muscle Eric (David Schaal) and hit-man Pringle (Michael Smiley), to their home in an attempt to suss them out. Karl is barely able to cope with the relentless criticism dished out by his father and his family's general dysfunction, and the atmosphere is made worse with the re-appearance of Valda (Kerry Peacock), an old flame now (apparently) pregnant with Karl's child.

    Channelling the work of various British film-makers, including Ken Loach, Mike Leigh and Shane Meadows, Down Terrace attempts to draw you in slowly, creating an atmosphere of unease before unleashing its bloody final act. It should be a clever subversion of the genre, and in some ways it is, but this is hampered by a measured approach and a self-awareness, similar to the problems Sightseers (2012) had. There isn't a fault to be had with the performances, especially Robert Hill as the everyman crime boss with a slight aura of buffoonery about him. It's also very funny on occasion, and one of Wheatley's real strengths as a film-maker is luring you in with laughs while never allowing you to be completely comfortable. Ultimately, it's a distinctive test of endurance with flashes of brilliance, doing wonders with a micro-budget.
    8craignewman81

    Just goes to show Americans don't understand cinema.

    All of the 1% reviews on here are by Americans that just don't get it? this is classic British sink, no blinking explosions or any CGI. I find it disturbing that people actually come on to IMDb to rip into an excellent film, made with heart (and no budget) . If you want to be a faux critic at least learn the art of spelling and not bashing art for having 'so much dialogue, and not enough action' Ben Wheatley pulls his A game here. If you don't get it, fine. But there is no need to mark it down. /rant.
    7stuart_osborn

    The Royle Family Meets The Sopranos!

    This low budget British crime drama is as entertaining as it is inspirational for film makers everywhere. Played by a real life father and son in the main character roles, the story revolves around the two men (shot mainly in their real life family home) as they are released from prison and set out to determine who is the police informant in their circle. It makes excellent use of a simple acoustic soundtrack, also helped by the fact that the father likes to play guitar as well and is an old hippy, who has, over the years morphed into a gangster and so is different from your usual cockney style villain. This being shot in Brighton also shows a different side to the city which is usually perceived as simply a holiday destination. The plot while being slightly ambitious is played out by the actors very convincingly and holds your attention throughout. I would encourage anyone to see this movie, apart from maybe Michael Bay!
    8axlrhodes

    Claustrophobic and intense. Ben Wheatley is an exciting talent.

    Writer/director Ben Wheatley's debut feature film Down Terrace is British drama that fuses together the kitchen sink social realism of Shane Meadows, Ken Loach and 'The Royle Family' to make compelling yet highly uncomfortable viewing. Wheatley, who demonstrates flair for creating small moments of humour around intense menace really sets his marker down with this unsettling look into the world of a crime family in steep decline. Thanks to being mostly confined to the small rooms of your average two-up-two-down terraced house, the film has a sense of real claustrophobia which is accentuated all the more by the intensity of the drama. It's one of those films where even as people sit down to a family meal, you can sense the brewing violence in the air. The tight, confined spaces only serve to heighten the feeling of being trapped in these small rooms with psychotic characters. All the performances register strongly, the picks being Robert Hill (Bill) and Julia Deakin (Maggie), the mother and father of the house, or Godfather and Godmother. To begin with, Maggie has the demeanour of the loving, but downtrodden Mum who runs to the kitchen when the boys start arguing, but as things unfold her character develops and the performance is chillingly well measured. Anyone familiar with Wheatley's follow up film 'Kill List' will cheer when the likable Michael Smiley turns up in a similar small role. So, Down Terrace sets a strong precedent for a debut director with its realism, horror and blacker than black comedy
    7cat_ranchero

    Very very very dark...

    This film was billed as a comedy but I found it so darkly comic that I could almost take it as a straight-up drama. All the performances were excellent with both Robert and Robin Hill putting in stellar turns. A cross between a kitchen sink drama and a fly-on-the-wall documentary, I found the filming style made for a compelling watch. Unfortunately there were a couple of niggles. They are supposed to be drug dealers but we see no drug dealing going on. Also, the police were very conspicuous by their absence; not one policeman seen all the way through. You'd have thought the police would definitely be watching someone with their track record. Other than that I found it an interesting and compelling watch. Just a word for the squeamish though, Ben Wheatley does not hold back on the violence. There are a couple of quite graphic scenes in there that might have you wincing.

    SteelMonster's verdict: RECOMMENDED

    My score: 7.1/10.

    You can find an expanded version of this review on my blog: Thoughts of a SteelMonster.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The two stars are really father and son
    • Quotes

      Karl: [to his pregnant girlfriend] Hey you've put on a bit of weight!

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojoUK: Top 10 Gritty British Gangster Movies (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Babes in the Wood
      (uncredited)

      Performed by Simon Smith, Paul George, Simon Walker, Robert Hill

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Down Terrace?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 15, 2010 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Убийство - дело семейное
    • Filming locations
      • Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK(main location)
    • Production companies
      • Mondo Macabro
      • Baby Cow Productions
      • Boum Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $9,812
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,088
      • Oct 17, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,812
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 29m(89 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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