When a former British Paratroop Regiment soldier (Paddy Considine) returns to his home town in rural Derbyshire after his tour of duty, he is determined to avenge his young brother (Toby Kebbell) whose learning difficulties made him the frequent butt of the bullying from local hoodlum “Sonny” (Gary Stretch) and his pals. It was one afternoon when things got completely out of hand that has fuelled this quest for revenge, and so “Richard” sets about meticulously planning to use their own tools to bring about their downfall. What ensues is effectively devoid of dialogue, it really just focuses on this man’s psychological warfare with his quarry. It’s a game of cat and mouse with him in plain sight - they know he is there, they know what he wants and as his plans start to take effect their terror and panic becomes more manifest and desperate. What’s a bit different about this thriller is the palpable sense of guilt “Richard” displays towards his brother whom we know was wholly dependent on him from their childhood - things we learn from flashbacks. It’s brutal and violent, but it’s also clever and menacingly calculating, too, as it challenges some established perceptions of masculinity and at times the photography puts us unnervingly close to the unfolding scenario - a scenario that doesn’t quite run as you might have expected and that showcases just how bullies work and at how their sheer force of personality can lead others to just go with the flow, regardless of their own reservations. It’s not an easy watch, but Considine brings a considerable screen presence here and it’s a fairly savage indictment of how cruel people can be.

The Soldier

1966

The League of Gentlemen

1960