Actor Ross McCall makes his directorial debut, second writing credit, and also cast himself in this low budget B film, and he did not disappoint. This is one of the much better B films I've seen in a long time. McCall's directing, along with the excellent cinematography, use of colors, and amazing camera angles/shots, as well as the impressive low budget basically two-room set, captured the gritty prison jail cell vibe to perfection. Add the better than usual (for a B film) score - just sometimes a little overbearing, and the viewer is immersed in the scenes. The 105 min runtime flew by even with the slow pacing and the lack of any real storyline, which is my only complaint. I get that McCall was aiming for a more character driven film, but there were many convoluted scenes, some needing more info, and an ending that needed explaining. I usually can guess or use my imagination for such endings, but I got too invested in the story and really wanted to know what McCall was trying to achieve. Had his writing been tighter, this film could've been one of the best prison films. The casting and performances were all spot on, with Fairbrass giving us one of his best performances to date. He carried this film and was really convincing in his character. Stephen Odubola was awesome, and the lovely Zoe Tapper was easy on the eyes. Overall I really enjoyed this film, and if you're a fan of the genre or Fairbrass, it's a must see. I applaud Ross McCall for giving us this little gem. It's a well deserving 7.5 rounded up to 8/10 from me.
Review of A Violent Man
