The Liability

The Liability, Craig Vivieros’ second feature following prison drama debut Ghosted, offers enough surprises to raise it above the mire of recent dopey British gangster fare. Also elevated by great performances from old-hand hard-cases Tim Roth and Peter Mullan, and a promising turn from relative newcomer Jack O’Connell, this stands as intriguing and accomplished work.

Teenage lout Adam (O’Connell) has just written-off the pricey motor belonging to his vicious underworld stepdad Peter (Mullan). By way of atonement, and to start paying off the debt, Adam is charged with playing driver to Peter’s colleague and contract killer Roy (Roth). As Adam and Roy head up north and begin to bond, some grisly murders and a mysterious girl (Talulah Riley) become central to the plot, and the odd couple’s survival.

The killers on a road trip element immediately recalls Stephen Frears excellent The Hit (in which Roth himself played the young hothead to John Hurt’s world-weary assassin), and the dynamic between the leads is convincing, often unexpectedly charming. In a film of somewhat higgledy-piggledy tone, their nicely played, jet-black comedy balances out what at times threatens to become quite nasty.

An interesting theme of paternal responsibility is a welcome layer; Adam’s relationship with Roy (trying to get their job done in time to attend his own daughter’s wedding) blooms as the already troubled connection with Peter collapses completely. The director also demonstrates a fair bit of technical flair, with one particular sequence in a service station tense, mischievous and confidently handled. Overall, well worth a look when one might have thought otherwise. [Chris Fyvie]