In his directorial debut, Yann Demange directs a 99 minute thrill ride, keeping tension as tight as a drum, with expert performances its cast. Scott Gentry reviews “'71”.

"'71" (15)

Directed by: Yann Demange.

Starring: Jack O'Connell, Richard Dormer, Sean Harris, Martin McCann, Charlie Murphey and Sam Reid.

Rated: 15 for containing very strong language, strong bloody violence and injury detail.

Running time: 99 minutes. 

Out now in UK cinemas.  

In 1971, Belfast was a war zone. The city was divided between areas containing Protestant Loyalists and Catholic Nationalists. This division caused mass rioting and the constant deterioration of the public's safety. In an attempt to control the crowds and provide safety for residents, the British Army was sent in, which often (arguably) caused more bad than good. Even as a work of fiction however, "'71" attempts to reveal the fear that would have been felt by the soldiers and the general public of that period. Disorientation, outrage, terror, they're all on the checklist, and Demange delivers it all in a hefty dosage.

To lead us through this tale of murder and revenge, we follow the story of Private Gary Hook (the rising actor of “Starred Up”, Jack O’Connell), a young British soldier who is deployed alongside his platoon into the city of Belfast in 1971. Once there, Hook and his unit are tasked with crowd-control on a busy street, but they are quickly overwhelmed by the onslaught of angry residents and rioters. Amongst the chaos, Hook is beaten by many of the locals, but eventually escapes and runs for his life. Unable to tell friend from foe in the consuming darkness, Hook makes his way across the deadly landscape, hoping to survive the night and acquire refuge at any cost. 

On a modest budget of £5 million, this outstanding low budget film creates unbelievable amounts of tension, and to a large degree it succeeds. Yes, there are striking similarities to the works of John Carpenter (perhaps “Assault on Precinct 13”?), but the film doesn’t rely on previous examples of tension-heavy films. In fact, Demange creates his own brand of tension, and places it upon each character in many situations. The film itself doesn’t focus as heavily upon The Troubles as I expected, but instead of crippling the film it improves it. Instead, by focusing upon the relationships between the characters themselves and the impact of their actions on the community, we are treated to a film which is able to branch out and explore its setting, rather than focus on a true story. 

Demange’s camerawork and the taught, tense score by David Holmes (“Hunger”), both of which are particularly good, are also worthy of mention. There are many riveting scenes included within the film and Demange’s ability to tackle difficult shots is masterful, particularly a fast-paced chase sequence between Hook and two IRA members, which places the audience directly into the perspective of our hero and creates a great deal of fear. The score is riveting and due to Holmes’ influence of perhaps John Carpenter, the entire soundtrack creates much needed tension wherever it lingers, prompting that Holmes may be one of the best composers in many years.
  
Written by the famed playwright Gregory Burke (“Black Watch”), the film’s script feels generic at certain points (the end shootout is disappointing), but due to the development of each character  the cast are given many chances to shine throughout the fast-paced drama. It’s unfortunate, but O’Connell himself is given very few lines, yet he attempts to provide a gripping performance and succeeds. The supporting cast itself is talented, with actors such as Sean Harris, Killian Scott and David Wilmot all acting particularly well. 

Verdict

For a directorial debut, Demange has crafted a remarkable film due to its technical style, ability to create tension on a grand scale and an enthralling cast. “'71” may have a disappointing ending in some respects, but the film remains a well designed thriller, with gripping dialogue and camerawork which is unmistakeably marvellous. 

7.5 Stars out of 10

Written by Scott Gentry.

Film/TV Rating Key

1-2 stars out of ten = Awful.

3-4 stars out of ten = Average.

5-6 stars out of ten = Good.

7-8 stars out of ten = Excellent.

9-10 stars out of ten = Amazing.

Trailer

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