We Are Monster

Based on real events this film starts out with Robert Stewart being discovered in his cell after he has murdered his cell mate Zahid Mubarek . The film then traces the events that led up to this murder. In doing so it appears to have drawn heavily on the findings of the inquiry into the events at Feltham Young Offender Institute during the year 2000.

Stewart is played by Leeshon Alexander who also wrote this and he puts in a very commendable performance. The back story includes unvarnished criticisms of the Prison Service too and an attempt to understand why he did this terrible and unprovoked act.

In terms of presentation this is a very 'staged' performance with few locations and obvious sets, but this is done for artistic impact and I felt actually worked really well. This is not an easy watch though as the material being covered is one that is alien to most people; it is though a very worthwhile piece of movie making that will appeal to those who like real life dramas and don't mind starting with the ending – especially one that is essentially an unhappy one.

This is based on the case of Robert Stewart, a racist who, incarcerated in Feltham Young Offenders Institute, murdered his Asian cellmate, Zahid Mubarek. The film seeks to tell some of Stewart's back-story, as well as expose the failings at Feltham itself.

Lead actor, the unusually-named 'Leeshon' Alexander, also wrote the script. And there's the problem: as an actor, he makes a fair writer; as a writer, he makes a fair actor. Most of the film has Stewart imagining he's talking to a slightly more exciting version of himself (also played by Alexander). The constant swearing and racial epithets these conversations consist of become wearing with nothing lighter to enliven the piece; even a shot of the impressively-muscled Alexander in the shower (waist upwards only I'm afraid) has to be accompanied by his 'other self' moaning about how he acquired a tattoo of Bob Marley on his arm. Secondary characters - even the victim himself, Mubarek - are barely more than sketched out; the prison guards are shown as exclusively lazy, racist, or both. As for the acting, Alexander relies too much on wide-eyed stares to convey an unhinged mind. (And, to be honest, he's rather swarthy to be convincing as a white racist - possibly that's why the entire film is shot in a strange, washed-out, unrealistic light.)

The bigwig at the 2014 Edinburgh International Film Festival who introduced the film used film snob language like 'raw' and 'uncompromising'. Perhaps. But my verdict is it's a worthwhile effort, but try harder next time. Doing a socially-conscious campaigning piece is all very well, but you've got to throw the audience a bone of interest every now and again.

This is a very interesting study of a young offender and what led him to brutally kill his cellmate in a racially aggravated murder (inasmuch as something like that can ever really be understood).

This was a fairly high profile case, so there is a kind of melancholic inevitability hanging over the film and quite a few times I found it pretty tough to watch.

I'd definitely recommend this film, especially to anybody interested in true crime and the mindset and life events that might lead someone to commit a horrific act like this.

Superbly constructed drama based on true events that happened at the Feltham Young Offenders Institute. Perfromances are excellent and the film will stay with you long after it has finished.

When I had heard that this movie was being released I was quite curious to see what it was going to be like: was it going to be a hard hitting truth and highlight the systematic failures of a UK prison system, which allowed a young man to be murdered in cold blood or was it going to be a limp drama which exonerated the guilty in their part? Well, when I saw the first 10 minutes I nearly switched off, as I soon realised that it was from the murderers perspective and I did not want to hear it. For what ever reason, I kept watching and I became drawn in by the surreal surroundings, brought to life with brilliant cinematography and effects and with a very well written story, I slowly regressed into the mind of a seriously disturbed individual.

I know for sure that what really happened was nothing like the film, as the film missed out quite a lot of what really happened because I was part of the Inquiry into the Death of Zahid Mubarak 2006.

Even so, I must admit the story was well written and it made great entertainment and at the same time it has brought Zahid back into the minds of the public. One day justice will be served and those responsible will be brought to book.

I recommend this movie not just for it's subject matter but for it's accomplishments and they are a well written storyline, great cinematography, and very well acted.