K-Shop

A Muslim kebab shop-owner, driven to distraction by the boozy yobs who make up much of his clientele, adopts a very extreme response in this dark horror fable, which plays like a modern take on the Sweeney Todd story. First-time writer/director Dan Pringle supplies plenty of convincing proof of Britain's youth at its lagered-up worst to create a context for his initially sympathetic protagonist's journey into bloody vengeance. However, his approach is less sure-footed when it comes to dealing with the anger that's been unleashed. Ziad Abaza certainly gives a committed performance as Salah, a man with a very busy mincing machine, but questions arise over whether the viewer should go along with him - or even if his actions are credible, given the worrying ease with which he proceeds. Ultimately, it's a film that takes itself all too seriously as a state-of-the-nation address, but sluggish pacing, a lengthy running time, and a general lack of focus sadly work against it. There's definitely more substance here than the usual penny dreadful, but ambition without accomplishment only goes so far.