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Connor Swindells (from Netflix series Sex Education) is well cast here as a young man in foster care who moves to Southend and discovers its underground rap-battle scene. The British seaside may not sound like the edgiest of locales, but director Ed Lilly utilises the backdrop well. While the stilted dialogue robs the story of some of its conviction, Swindells is fantastic as Adam, and he creates a believable bond with Ruth Sheen's foster carer and Fola Evans-Akingbola as his mentor/love interest. The film treads similar ground to 8 Mile, but Swindells's heartfelt turn helps lift it above the competition.