Harry Brown

One of the most morally debateable films of recent months, Harry Brown is a vigilante thriller which treads dangerously close to empty sensationalism. After the brutal killing of his close friend, our eponymous protagonist (Michael Caine) decides to tackle the growing problem of gang violence on his London estate by taking matters into his own hands. Whilst the director shows his competence at stylishly creating an almost apocalyptic world full of desolation, beyond this the film fails to show any insight into gang culture or youth violence. Instead we are presented with a story that appears to be based on ignorance and fear rather than attempting to grapple with understanding what is a complex social problem. As Brown’s actions get increasingly violent so the film feels increasingly exploitative and on leaving the cinema there’s the horrible sense that Harry Brown is akin to the very worst rhetoric of The Daily Mail.