Six movies deep and well into a series’ gone-direct-to-video phase, odds are that the results are likely either severely lacking in quality or a passionate effort by some up-and-coming genre director stretching their skills. See the likes of James Nunn turning the Marine films into showcases of his action prowess or John Hyams reinvigorating Universal Soldier via surreal action-splatter audacity. Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance isn’t on the level of those DTV unicorns, but as the most mature and sophisticated late entry in this under-the-radar British crime saga, it’s a taut, brutal, and confident showing.
Even though the plot becomes a bloody backstabbing criss-cross between multiple factions and players, Rise of the Footsoldier: Vengeance is overall a textbook tale of familiar crime thrills, albeit one executed with rock-solid direction. The aftermath of a bank robbery goes awry, and soon the consequences kill one crook while his friend barrels through the underworld, first looking for answers, then thirsting for revenge. Craggy bear of a man Craig Fairbrass graduated from antagonist to franchise lead by the third Footsoldier; as career criminal Pat Tate, the veteran character actor carries this cliche cocktail with taciturn fierceness and a believably no-nonsense badass presence. Director Nick Nevern and writers Andrew Loveday and Jason Maza clearly understand the strength of having Fairbrass at their disposal, allowing this entry to unfold as a tangled crime mystery, with Tate searching for who killed his friend Kenny (Josh Myers), rather than just wallowing in gangster action. Although there’s plenty of that, especially in the final act.
All roads seem to lead to Soho’s trendy bars, neon clubs and boxer/drag queen Billy the Kid (Ben Wilson), just one of the surprisingly well-sketched characters filling the London underbelly that Tate navigates for leads. None of them are as engaging as Fairbrass, but all are interesting via action or performance. The multiple (and increasingly violent) junkyard showdowns between Tate and Billy’s Scottish crime lord father (Stephen McCole) really bring out the Get Carter-esque warpath intensity of this sixth film.
The first half is quite restrained by franchise standards, focusing more on tense conversations than on bodies piling up. An icy hitman, explosive fates, and Tate gearing up with a whole arsenal signal Nevern gradually upping the danger, until each faction is closing in on Billy’s whereabouts like a dwindling fuse sparking toward a bloody crescendo. The Footsoldier films have never lacked in stabby shoot-em-up violence, and Vengeance delivers on its title with the second half leading into a visceral extended finale of betrayals, standoffs, foot-long blades to the gut and sawed-off shotgun blasts.
Aiming for a more deliberate and refined approach is an admirable ambition for a franchise this venerable, and director Nevern achieves a solidly constructed, satisfyingly brutal crime tale. Between a sequel tease at the end and the always dependable Fairbrass appearing utterly comfortable in his role, the future of the Footsoldier series seems bright (and bloody).
Photo courtesy of Brainstorm Media
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