Tower Block

The top-floor residents of a derelict East End tower block come under attack from a psycho sniper in this riveting splatter thriller from debuting directors James Nunn and Ronnie Thompson. With the lifts booby-trapped and the exits obstructed, the mysterious killer has thought of every last detail to divide and conquer the panic-stricken sitting targets. Although the hoodie horror opening proves off-putting, once the well-choreographed shocks fall into place, and the eerily run-down interiors come into their own, nothing stops the gory action building into a perfectly formed nail-biter. Aiding the nerve-jangling cause enormously are Sheridan Smith, as the Sigourney Weaver-like accidental heroine, and Jack O'Connell (Starred Up, '71), who genially sends up his hardman persona. Yes, the maniac's motive barely passes muster and, yes, the stretched budget sometimes shows, but it still makes for a high-tension ride full of smart twists and turns.