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Writhing with untamed sexuality and aggression, this blistering British indie centers on Cal, a teenage thug so desperate to hide his gay cravings from his gang members that he binges on drugs, anonymous sex and acts of violence. But the bad boy's secret desires are uncovered when he rescues a kind-eyed French exchange student from one of the clan's sadistic hate crimes. Though the two boys fall passionately in love, Cal's crew is bent on revenge for his betrayal and the young lovers are placed in unspeakable danger. Unapologetic and as poignant as it is shocking, Shank is a must see.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I only write this to say thanks to the positive reviews on this page. I was initially put off getting this as there were so many negative posts regarding this film. But a mate got it for me and I thought it was a quietly brilliant film that truly deserved more attention.
The plot loosely, is a gang from Bristol do vicious and sadistic so called 'happy slapping' and film it on their mobiles, they are a dysfunctional generally unlikeable lot held together by an invisible bond seemingly based on mutual violence and fear of the female `leader'.
The main character Cal, stops a French exchange student getting a kicking and is thus ousted from the gang. He then ends up having a relationship with Olivier, but his former gang mates will not let matters rest there. The reasons reveal themselves in a manner of ways and at a rate that does not undermine the main storyline. His best mate from the gang is particularly vicious about the 'betrayal' of turning out 'queer', but as Quentin Crisp once said 'some roughs are pretty queer and some queers are pretty rough'.
Some of the detractors are right in that some of the characters are overly stereo typical and there are more coincidences than a Dickens melodrama. Also suspend belief at someone gaining access to a computer quicker than a super hero. However, this is a shoe string budget effort which is watchable, well acted and actually moving in parts. And it is an indie British flick not based in London and should be lauded for that if nothing else. The sex scenes have been called soft porn by some reviewers but they just felt natural given the content and circumstances in which they take place. If you are wavering about whether to get/see this or not I urge you to give 'Shank' a go and hopefully like me you will find it very much worth the effort.
The plot loosely, is a gang from Bristol do vicious and sadistic so called 'happy slapping' and film it on their mobiles, they are a dysfunctional generally unlikeable lot held together by an invisible bond seemingly based on mutual violence and fear of the female `leader'.
The main character Cal, stops a French exchange student getting a kicking and is thus ousted from the gang. He then ends up having a relationship with Olivier, but his former gang mates will not let matters rest there. The reasons reveal themselves in a manner of ways and at a rate that does not undermine the main storyline. His best mate from the gang is particularly vicious about the 'betrayal' of turning out 'queer', but as Quentin Crisp once said 'some roughs are pretty queer and some queers are pretty rough'.
Some of the detractors are right in that some of the characters are overly stereo typical and there are more coincidences than a Dickens melodrama. Also suspend belief at someone gaining access to a computer quicker than a super hero. However, this is a shoe string budget effort which is watchable, well acted and actually moving in parts. And it is an indie British flick not based in London and should be lauded for that if nothing else. The sex scenes have been called soft porn by some reviewers but they just felt natural given the content and circumstances in which they take place. If you are wavering about whether to get/see this or not I urge you to give 'Shank' a go and hopefully like me you will find it very much worth the effort.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Its very difficult to find a film that doesn't glamourise or look down upon youth culture today. It saddens me that audiences today are all too quick to criticise anyone who makes the effort to address this shortfall.
I was given this film by a gay friend and me and my girlfriend watched it one evening recently and I was amazed at it's honesty and truthfulness in tackling the feral culture that blights my generation in the media. I live in Bristol where the film was made. I am an undergraduate film maker and this film gave me hope to continue with my aspirations and to make films with a unique voice.
I can see through the shortcomings of budget and casting and recognise a film that is saying something that will stand as a testament and record to a time when 'youth' were violent and intolerant towards each other.
This film is a wonderful explosion of emotion and reality. I greatly admire it. From the first shot to the last we were totally engaged.
I was given this film by a gay friend and me and my girlfriend watched it one evening recently and I was amazed at it's honesty and truthfulness in tackling the feral culture that blights my generation in the media. I live in Bristol where the film was made. I am an undergraduate film maker and this film gave me hope to continue with my aspirations and to make films with a unique voice.
I can see through the shortcomings of budget and casting and recognise a film that is saying something that will stand as a testament and record to a time when 'youth' were violent and intolerant towards each other.
This film is a wonderful explosion of emotion and reality. I greatly admire it. From the first shot to the last we were totally engaged.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this film because of the good reviews it received (and despite the bad ones), but delayed watching it because I feared it would be too depressing. It certainly painted a bleak picture of the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) generation, but also demonstrated that they are not beyond redemption or saving (and I don't mean in a religious sense). There has been criticism of the sensitive French student as a stereotypical "defenceless gay queen", but in fact I think the contrast between him - gentle and with a relatively puny body but confident in his own sexuality - and Cal - muscular and aggressive but afraid of revealing his feelings - works well. Even the nude scenes are more reminiscent of children playing than of hard-on sex. While Cal and his French boyfriend provide the happy ending, even for the other characters life is potentially not without hope.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
brave and gritty
look at the reviews before buying this film. a very mixed bag of love it or hate it, myself i really liked it for being diff the leads were nice looking and i think they played the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by kevin quarmby
Great Film
A full on great film. So true to real life spot on.
Sorry not good doing reviews so it's short and how I feel. Read more
Sorry not good doing reviews so it's short and how I feel. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. D. R. Cooke
Please give it a go!
Usually I read reviews before buying films on Amazon, but this time I didn't. This was partly because it's set in Bristol, where I was born and partly because I had seen photo's of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mike Hector
Expected more
I thought It would of been a little less complex, I mean the french guy? Wtf? I could not relate to that, would of liked more sex too haha. Also where it was set? Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jamesjw
NOT FOR EVERYONE
Lol if your not a fan of "hardcore" gay movies or "gang life" then this is not for you. Some people might find some of the scenes gritty.... Read more
Published 8 months ago by blogoh
A film worth watching
Can i just say, having read the reviews of this film AFTER watching it, i was amazed at some of the negative comments. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Marcus I
Cringeworthy
From the happy-slapping to the rape, with everything in between, this made very uncomfortable viewing. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Le Grand Barbare
Stereotyped, cliche-ridden tripe!!!
I had heard some good reviews about this and thought I'd give it a go. Other reviewers have detailed the story in fuller terms so I won't repeat them, but in summary it's the story... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. James A. Newton
Excellent - absorbing and memorable
This is a first rate albeit low budget British film which punches well above its weight.
The screenplay is original and absorbing, good characterisation, rapid plot... Read more
The screenplay is original and absorbing, good characterisation, rapid plot... Read more
Published 11 months ago by mg1900
OMG
Save your self, save your money and save a whale. If this is the best that is on offer then god help us.
Published 15 months ago by Kelty
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