DEAD MAN’S SHOES

UK, 2004, 86 minutes, Colour.
Paddy Considine, Toby Kebbell.
Directed by Shayne Meadows.

Until now Shayne Meadows has been noted for small domestic dramas set in the British Midlands, Twentyfour Seven, A Room for Romeo Brass and Once Upon a Time in the Midlands. These films focus on children and youth, employment and tensions in families. In Romeo Brass, there was a very sinister character, especially in relationship to children, played by Paddy Considine. Paddy Considine’s career has taken off with Last Resort and In America. He now comes back to work with Shane Meadows, not just as an actor, but as a co-writer of this sometimes frightening story.

It is a very difficult film to label. It opens with home movies of family and two young brothers. It moves to a domestic drama as the two brothers make contact with each other as the older, more protective brother (Considine) returns from military service. It then takes on a sense of menace as they track down a group of local yobbos who tormented the younger brother because he was mentally disabled and they enjoyed the bullying.

Now comes the blood and we realise that we are in for a frenzy of vengeance. Which we are. But, Meadows is not always predictable and there is more to the character of the younger brother than we first realise. The final victim for vengeance has something of a different story from the rest which gives the ending a different tone from predicted (but chilling nonetheless).

The older brother is obviously an avenging angel character but his character is mixed with some more kindly aspects. The posters speak of a film of redemption. There is very little redemption, if any, for the bullies. Is the brother, after his violence and bloodletting, redeemed?

Brief, taking place over a five day period with each day precisely introduced, with black and white flashbacks to the abuse of the young man, this is often an ugly film, but compelling as well.

1.A film about evil, ugliness, brutality? Vengeance? The emotional impact on the audience, sharing the vengeance, repelled by it? Ambiguities?

2.The Midlands town, the squalid aspects of the town, apartments, clubs? The background of drug-taking, unemployment? The streets? The contrast with the nice home, the farm? The ruins above the town?

3.The score, the lyrics of the songs – and their specific relationship to the actions of Richard? The final requiem?

4.The structure of the film, the five days, the beginning of each day, the specific time? The hatred in the heart of Richard, the blood on his hands?

5.The tradition of revenge cinema, vigilantes? The finale with Richard saying he was the monster, forcing Mark to kill him, forcing Mark to live with the guilt?

6.The credits, the home videos of the family, family love, the two brothers within this context? An emotional basis for what was to happen?

7.Richard, his personality, going into the army, his commando training, saying at the end that he found Anthony an embarrassment, yet always supportive of him? Anthony alive in his memories, the visuals of Anthony being tormented and the audience understanding Richard’s motivation? The ghost, seeing Anthony walking with Richard, talking with him, remembering, pointing out the guilty?

8.The group, their being together, having nothing to do, drugs, sex? Immature men? The presence of the woman? Teasing Anthony, bullying him, the sexual abuse and taunting? Forcing the drugs? Forcing him on the girl and laughing? The final torment, taking him to the ruins, putting the noose around his neck? His crying out and wanting Richard? His hanging himself? The end and his waking and looking at Richard?

9.Richard and Anthony, in the club, Herbie playing billiards, the anger that Richard showed him, Herbie afraid, waiting outside and apologising to Herbie? Wearing the mask, Herbie thinking it was an elephant and being afraid? Richard and his painting the walls of the apartment, the faces of the sleeping men? Telling them that he was Anthony’s brother?

10.Soz and Tuff, their lifestyle, pornographic magazines, the drugs? Herbie and his deals? Richard stealing the drugs and their anxiety about Sonny? Big Al, Gypsy John? Sonny as the boss, in the club, the drug deals? His squalid style and personality?

11.Richard, painting the faces, coming into the apartment, killing John? Their getting in the car, the group afraid? Planning the shooting? Alan going to the farm, the encounter with Richard, Sonny shooting and killing Alan by mistake? At the petrol station, Tuff wanting to run? His being killed by Richard and his being put in the suitcase?

12.Richard and his mixing the drugs, talking to Anthony? Going to the apartment, putting the drugs in the drink? The effect on each of them? His confronting them, the bag over Sonny’s head and shooting him? The stabbings?

13.The discussion with Herbie, the deal, getting the name of the final man? Herbie and his fear, the deal, the knife, Richard stabbing him?

14.His going to Weston’s home, seeing the children, the flashbacks and his playing with the children, especially with the knife? The discussion with Weston’s wife? The children coming home, the parents taking the gift of the knife? His coming to see Weston? The morning, taking him from his bed, going to the ruins, the talk?

15.Weston, the flashbacks and his presence at the events? His confession to his wife? His regret at not stopping the group? Richard and his goading him, forcing him to stab him? The blood on his hands? His future?

16.The role of the flashbacks for the audience, continually seeing the torture and torment? The flashbacks within the bullies and their seeing their own action? The woman and her fear – and Richard not going after her?

17.Richard, avenging angel, devil? Malice and vigilante? Admitting he had become a monster, consumed by the vengeance? Forcing Richard to live with guilt?