The Intent review – pulsating south London crime thriller

Kalvadour Peterson and Femi Oyeniran’s story of a smalltime criminal moving up the ladder has a confidence and style undimmed by a smattering of cliche

There are some flaws in this south London crime thriller from Kalvadour Peterson and Femi Oyeniran, but it has confidence and energy. Rapper and producer Scorcher plays a smalltime criminal called Hoodz, who moves up to a bigger league robbing corner shops and loan stores and finally hits the jackpot by attacking a cocaine dealer for his stash of money and drugs. But one of his crew, Gunz, played by Dylan Duffus, is an undercover police officer who is failing to make regular contact – to the anger of his commanding officers – and gradually becoming very comfortable with the idea of being one of the glamorous bad guys. The police must consider him a suspect like all the rest.

There are some cliches, but nothing to cramp the film’s style. The narrative doesn’t feel forced, and it has a loose, freewheeling power and pulse.

Contributor

Peter Bradshaw

The GuardianTramp

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