Offender

2012 was an amazing film for British Films, something that I realised very early on when I checked out at least 72 of them last year. Offender was the first UK film that I watched in 2013(on DVD). Excellent film with a basic yet very effective storyline and some wonderful performances from the leads and the supporting cast. A 21st century version of 'Scum' with a better storyline. Definitely worth checking out. 2012 gave the film world, great British films like Deviation, GBH, Hard Boiled Sweets. Im very happy to be able to add Offender to the list of films that I recommend.

The DVD is available now to purchase from main outlets.

Thoroughly enjoyed this film! The lengths the main character Tommy went through for revenge is something special. The actor who played Jake I felt didn't act well enough, it looked to me that his over acting which didn't come off well and perhaps another actor could have done a better job. Would have liked to know what happens to Tommy now that his purpose to go in prison is fulfilled but guess I'll have to make up my own theory. This is definitely a film to watch with an open mind with no expectations Overall very good film! Great acting from the main character! Rated a 6 just due to some of the acting.

"Offender" is a failed attempt to attract audiences with a mix of drama and thrill within the prison walls. The film tries to present the story of a young man, Tommy Nix, who deliberately gets himself imprisoned to exact revenge on a group of criminals who harmed his pregnant girlfriend. Unfortunately, the screenplay fails to deliver a convincing story or relatable characters.

One of the biggest flaws in "Offender" is the lackluster acting. The film's lead, Joe Cole, gives an unconvincing and uninspired performance, making it difficult for the audience to empathize with his plight. Additionally, the other characters are shallow and underdeveloped, especially the actor who played the main villain, English Frank. His performance is one of the worst I've ever seen. He attempted to portray a psychopathic criminal who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, with anyone, but he failed miserably in his role. This failure prevented feelings of anxiety and fear from reaching the audience, undermining the credibility of the events and leaving gaps in the story without sufficient explanation or justification.

The direction suffers from a clear lack of innovation and creativity. The violent scenes, which are supposed to be thrilling and impactful, come off as exaggerated and devoid of realism. The excessive reliance on violent scenes strips the film of its message, making it seem like a superficial experience rather than providing a deep social analysis of the prison environment, which the film attempted but failed to deliver.

The screenplay is full of plot holes and predictable scenes, causing the film to lose elements of surprise and excitement. The dialogues are unrealistic, clichéd, and childish, adding to the overall frustration with the film. Additionally, the soundtrack is often inappropriate, exacerbating the film's shortcomings.

Overall, "Offender" fails to achieve any of the goals one might expect from a gritty prison drama. It is a film that lacks depth and innovation, leaving viewers feeling they have wasted their time watching an ill-constructed story with unconvincing performances.

My Rating is 5 out of 10

Note: If you have free time, look for a better experience unless you want to waste your time. Sleeping is better than watching this film.

i too was suspicious of the low scores this film is getting (too many haters out there who don't like the genre?). Anyway it was packed when i saw at cineworld on Saturday night and got a good reception from a mostly young crowd. The lead actors are very good, some of them fresh talent. Joe Cole from TV's Skins is a revelation. The film goes at a fast pace and has some great fight scenes. Not really a remake of Scum but more a contemporary Brit thriller. You should like it if you have a taste for films like Taken and the Bourne trilogy. Lifted above the hoodie genre tag by the eclectic score of new music and classic soul tunes. Offender deserves to be a hit as its something a bit different from recent British films like Adulthood, Ill Manors etc.

Watched this at the Cinema months back and hadn't seen it since, so I decided to buy it the other day on DVD. A brilliant film, not entirely original but a fresh take on a done subject. 'Offender' stands comparison against the great British films of today, such as 'Kidulthood', 'Adulthood', 'Harry Brown', 'Ill Manors' and so on. After a blistering opening sequence, the film continues to impress with its bleak vision of prison life. Joe Cole stars as Tommy, the good young lad who thrown into hell when his girlfriend is assaulted. He's out for revenge. Need I say more. With his moody baby face and mental transformation, Joe Cole is sensational as Tommy. You can feel his pain and anguish and you want nothing more than for him to get his revenge. The other performances are good too. English Frank is both laughable and menacing. The soundtrack is superb at times, the settings feel genuine and the violence is swift. While this isn't cheery stuff, it's sure to impress and entertain certain viewers. Cole really delivers and I hope he goes far after this. ****/*****