Written and directed by debut British writer-director Paul Andrew
Williams, London to Brighton is the critically acclaimed urban thriller
that has proved to be one of the most important films in recent British
film history. Violent, uncompromising and utterly enthralling, the
low-budget film features an excellent cast, razor sharp dialogue and
empathetic handling of issues including homelessness and child prostitution.
After an exhilarating and encouraging start, the story gradually becomes
less about the thought-provoking human tragedy and enters the realm
of clichés, as the influence of contemporary British thrillers
including Mona Lisa, Performance and Get Carter begin to reveal themselves.
It's 3:07am and two girls burst into a run down toilet. Orphaned
runaway Joanne (Georgia Groome) is crying her eyes out and her clothing
is ripped. Kelly's (Lorraine Stanley) face is bruised and starting
to swell. Millionaire nonce Duncan Allen lies in his bathroom bleeding
to death. Duncan's quiet-spoken son, psychotic gangster Stuart (Sam
Spruell), has found his father and wants answers. Derek (Johnny Harris),
Kelly's pimp, needs to find Kelly or it will be him who pays. Prostitute
Kelly and 11-year-old companion Joanne need the fare for a train to
Brighton so Kelly is forced to turn a trick to raise the funds. By
morning they reach the sanctuary of the home of one of Kelly's friends
in Brighton - but a mobile phone call is about to give their hiding
place away.