Ill Manors: Film Review (Mr Halsey)

Plan B or formally known as Ben Drew is the director of the film, Ill Manors. Plan B is a singer-songwriter, an English rapper, actor and director from Forest Gate. He has realized many albums such as; Who Need Actions When You Got Words in 2006 and has also appeared in many films which has boosted his acting career. He has appeared in Adulthood, Harry Brown, 4,3,2,1 and The Sweeny. In 2012 Ben Drew wrote and directed the film Ill Manors. He also released an accompanying soundtrack album which become he second number one album.

Ill Manors has only one well known star, Riz Ahmed. Riz Ahmed is a British actor that has stared in many films such as, Dead Set, Wired, Shifty, Four Lions and many more. All the other characters that have stared in the film are unknown talents to the public yet. Some of the characters hadn’t even acted before but have played their roles to the best of their ability to make the film look as realistic as possible even though it is on a small budget. Some of the actors that are in the film are Plan B’s friends that he approached. All the characters in the film have done an amazing job.

Ill Manors is a unique crime thriller that is set on the unforgiving streets of London. Ill Manors follows six desperate lives, all struggling to survive the circles of violence that engulf them. There is ex-dealer Kirby, who has just been released from prison. Thug Ed who will stop at nothing to find his missing phone. Troubled Michelle who is just looking for her next hit. Young Jake who finds himself drawn to the local gang. Chris, who seeks revenge. Katya, who is desperately trying to escape this foreign land. Lastly, Aaron who is the main protagonist who is just trying to the right thing. Each and every character were able to portray the lives of others very effectively.

At the start of the film it is energetic, entertaining, chaotic and inventive but has the plot thickens everything goes downhill as you get to witness the horrible details of what happens in the unforgiving streets of London and how teenagers fend for themselves because their parents have taken no interest in them. 

The target audience is of the E category demographic as it consists of unemployed and students, but also the other category demographics. This is because the E category demographics related to the identification of the characters and them, as they are either in a similar position or similar age. Furthermore the psychographics that this film is aiming for is reformers as they seek enlightenment, freedom form restrictions and personnel growth. 

Ill Manors is a hard hitting film that has suspense around every corner. It is intense and portrays the actual surrounding of those living in a suburban estate that have problems and are surrounded with dangers all the time.

There are six songs/tracks that help the audience understand what is going on in the film as at times it can get confusing with all the different characters and there separate and different stories. The soundtrack helps yank all the storylines together when it reaches the climax of the film and explain how all the characters are connected with each other is some sort of way. Each character has been paired with a track that explains their story.