England has council estates, we have housing projects here. Saxon estate makes our projects look like a home in the suburbs. Further, it's being evacuated to make way for a new runway for the airport which borders the estate. Remaining are the die-hards; the people with nowhere to go, the elderly, the forgotten, and the ones who only can dream of leaving but don't know how or have the courage to leave. They can exist in this environment. It's barely inhabited, but what and who remain are daily "trouble." Eddie Pierce was one of those inhabitants, until he got himself sent to prison. And now he's out – so he returns to the only place he knows – Saxon estate. His one friend, Kevin, has won 1 million pounds in a quiz show but has gone missing. Eddie, on the other hand, owes a debt which has grown to an impossible sum, and has little time to settle up. Eddie's only source of repayment will be to find Kevin before time is up. Eddie he offers his services to Kevin's wife for a price – to find Kevin. And so Eddie's return to Saxon begins; Eddie is no private detective. He is an ex-con, and Eddie has his own demons to carry.
Sean Harris and the estate are the stars. Saxon estate is a bad dream turned nightmare. Eddie is quite inept as he begins his return. He is resourceful, but a screw up. He's bad, too open, draws too much attention, and is none too discrete. At every turn, a new evil pops out.
The film is evenly-paced and not a moment is wasted. It is a dark movie, even when filmed in full sunlight. Edgy, gritty and the comedy is dark, subtle humor because Eddie's character is a puzzle and he is desperately following a mystery. But, he needs to survive Saxon as he walks a path toward being its victim -- again.
It's a thriller and a good mystery. Two stories are intertwined – Eddie's own story and his search for his friend. Excellent camera work in true Hitchcockian fashion. Long shots from above and down along the rows of the estate giving the viewer a feeling of being insignificant to the greater dangers that lie ahead (and they are real --- think "Psycho" (Martin Balsam on the stairs) or Cary Grant, "North by Northwest", waiting on the road, alone, by the empty cornfield; you just know trouble is coming). Hitchcock would have loved this film, and the sly tongue in cheek humor.
Also, shot in close up giving Sean Harris the means to act especially when he has little dialogue, because that is what Harris does. He acts. Harris carries this film (his first lead). The irony is that all those who remain are living next to an airport.
Warning: some (lots of) simulated violence. With a quick compliment on the scenes with Eddie's screen mom. They are especially compelling together. With a special applause to the actress that played Mrs. Pierce, Sue Maund.
