Johnny Flynn and Will Poulter star in a heist drama driven as much by Flynn’s songs as it is by the tension of the characters’ exploits.
Troy (Poulter) and Mike (Flynn) hole up in a roadside café, awaiting completion of a job. They’re not friends as such and there exists a tension between them. The atmosphere is partly alleviated by the presence of waitress Gloria (Naomi Ackie), who takes a shine to Troy. But as the clock ticks on and little changes, Mike begins to lose control of his temper.
The crime thriller isn’t the most obvious genre to lend itself to musical interludes, but that’s what director Malachi Smyth achieves here. Opening with a group number and followed by solos and duets, Flynn’s songs don’t so much drive the narrative as add to the mood of the film. It’s a bold move and one that Smyth pulls off thanks to the three leads, whose chemistry balances humour, tension and the subtler shades of romance.
