I have to admit that when I read the blurb for first time writer/director Paul Andrew Williamsí¢â‚¬â„¢s London To Brighton, I experienced a familiar sinking feeling.í‚   An í¢â‚¬Ëœindependent British gangster/thrillerí¢â‚¬â„¢ with an unknown cast and low budget immediately put me in mind of such recent cringeworthy Brit crime flicks as Crank, Revolver and Layer Cake only with lower production valuesí¢â‚¬ ¦ Thankfully though, London To Brighton is actually quite good. í‚  

The film opens as it means to go on, with a violent and gritty scene in a London toilet at three in the morning.í‚   Kelly, a prostitute with a fresh black eye and a young girl Joanne are being hotly persued by Kellyí¢â‚¬â„¢s pimp and urgently need to flee London.í‚   The narrative follows their escape, punctated by flashbacks that explain the backstory piece by piece as the story gathers pace.

Whilst the general premise of the script is hardly pushing the boundaries in terms of originality, the story does have a uniquely dark streak that explores peadophilic crime.í‚   Although highly unpleasant, this particularly sensitive issue does lend the film a certain sinister appeal as we desperately urge the young girl to escape the clutches of her evil persuers.í‚  

Williamsí¢â‚¬â„¢s superb direction is highlighted well by the choice of 16mm over digital, a wise decision by the producing team of Alastair Clark and Rachel Robey that gives the film an immediate visual eminence.í‚   The locations are shot superbly, brilliantly capturing the simultaneous beauty and grittiness of both the Brighton and London landscapes whilst also delivering powerful and unflinching close-ups of the characterí¢â‚¬â„¢s faces.í‚  

Some excellent casting also gives the film a degree of authenticity that sets it apart from other crime/thriller flicks.í‚   Both Lorraine Stanley and Georgia Groome give outstanding perfomances in the lead roles of Kelly and 12 year-old Joanne, and Johnny Harris is chillingly convincing as the thoroughly nasty Derek.

London To Brighton opened at the prestigious Edinburgh Film Festival last year and has since enjoyed an incredible reception from the British press.í‚   Whilst the film is both gripping and extremely well directed, I cant help but feel that the lavish praise heaped on the film has been bourne mostly out of a relief that low budget British cinema does not always have to be mediocre.í‚   I will certainly look forward to Williamsí¢â‚¬â„¢s next feature where he can bring his powerful directorial style to a project with a little more narrative innovation.í‚   But in the meantime, London To Brighton remains a quality thriller definitely worth seeking out if only for the performances of the lead actors that we will certainly be seeing a lot more of in the future. í‚  

Official Movie Website: http://www.l2b-themovie.co.uk

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/londontobrightonmovie