Diary of a Bad Lad

I was totally taken in that this fiction film was an actual documentary, thanks to its naturalistic dialogue and performances. I was moved to horror, anger and outrage as I watched it, ready to protest to the organisers who screened it about how they could condone such journalism, right up till the very end. I thought I was watching a documentary about drugs, pornography and rape, but the real story, about the media's lack of ethics, crept up on me, caught me unawares, without me realising it I began judging the crew, in particular the presenter, for his incalculably inhumane and opportunistic behaviour. An excellent film.

After seeing this film twice now, what becomes apparent upon the second viewing is the northern humour. well timed comic performances from Paul Bertwistle in particular are what give the audience respite from the dark, sinister and intense drama that unfolds upon the screen.

To think that this film was made with such a low budget and in the spare time of the film makers is a credit to them and shows the commitment of everyone involved. 'Diary Of A Bad Lad' is certain to be a success amongst audiences everywhere and why the film has not been released yet defies logic. I challenge anyone to see the film and not have strong feelings towards it.

"He'll make you laugh, he'll make you think," sang Professor Fink in an episode of The Simpsons, and he could well have been talking about one of the folks behind Diary of a Bad Lad. The genius of this staggeringly-realistic faux documentary is that its black humour makes you laugh even as another part of you is thinking, "Oh my god - what these people are doing is horrific." It entertains hugely for an hour and a half, but leaves you with many unsettling thoughts on both the horrors of the crimes committed by the "Bad Lad" Tommy and the exploitative nature of the media and the ethics of journalists. These themes have never been more relevant than in these days of 24-hour news coverage when no-one thinks twice about broadcasting images of bleeding victims of terrorist attacks staggering into ambulances.

I'm generally a fan of Hollywood-style movies with happy endings, slick camera-work, fun characters and traditional "good guys", so for a film that deliberately eschews all of these things to appeal to me is no mean feat - that it did is a testament to the quality of the writing, direction and performances. The illusion of the whole thing being a real documentary is damn-near perfect, with every scene written and performed in an utterly naturalistic fashion. This film desperately deserves a release.

I saw Bad Lad at a special preview staged as part of the Kinofilm Manchester International Short Film Festival in February 2005. My expectations weren't particularly high. A DV film shot over four years in and around Blackburn by a bunch of amateurs in their spare time? Going to be absolutely riveting...right? Ninety minutes later I was gob-smacked to find that, yes, it WAS absolutely riveting. From the opening sequence, when the slimy/sinister Tommy Morghen character (brilliantly underplayed by Joe O'Byrne) introduces the story, to the final denouement when we find out why he is doing so, the audience is drawn into the film and not let go for a second. I came out of the theatre with the surprising realisation that I'd enjoyed Bad Lad more than any feature I'd seen over the past twelve months - despite the fact that the other contenders had enjoyed a budget at least a thousand times bigger (Bad Lad was shot for little over £3,000).

So, what makes Bad Lad so incredibly good? Jonathan Williams has crafted a cracking script which is witty, harrowing, thought-provoking, funny and chilling in turn. Borrowing from a number of different genres, it can't be comfortably pigeonholed into any of them. There was only one scene which didn't ring completely true to me, but this was soon forgotten when I got caught up in the action again immediately afterwards. (Even so, it was nowhere near the magnitude of the scene in Blair Witch where, now that they're lost, one of the characters decides to throw the map away. Why is it that so many other films depend upon their characters being so completely dumb in order to carry the plot?).

The standard of acting, from a cast almost totally made up of complete unknowns, is exemplary. On the couple of occasions where it seems a little stilted, these are actors playing ordinary guys who are obviously self-conscious at being filmed by a documentary crew - so the results still ring completely true. Director Michael Booth has done a fantastic job with the tools he was given. The confident and assured touch he demonstrates throughout is quite remarkable for a first-time feature director and I'm sure it will by no means be the last time I see his name on an end credits roll.

Where Bad Lad is concerned, between them Williams and Booth have pulled off that most difficult of filmic feats - creating something new. The breath of fresh air Bad Lad represents (compared to the formulaic fare we're usually treated to) completely blew me away. If this film doesn't eventually make a bigger splash than did Blair Witch there's no justice in the universe.

I've heard that, as a result of the Kinofilm Manchester preview, the producers have been able put Bad Lad through colour grading on Sumners' Da Vinci 2K for the final cut. I can't wait to see it. When it secures a theatrical release (as I'm sure it will) - Be There!

When i say this movie changed my life i wouldn't be lying one bit. if a scene can stick in your head weeks after seeing it then your doing well. if multiple scenes still make you laugh, wince, cringe or grin to yourself weeks after seeing it, then your watching something special. This film will not be to everyones taste but then again nothing ever is, but the realism of how you follow 'Barry Lick' and his crew as they try to film a gritty, underworld documentary about Blackburn Gangsters will have you engrossed right until the multiple twist ending, which will no doubt leave you feeling angry and shocked (but I'm not saying anymore).

Of all the gangster/underworld films I've ever seen i think this is the only film that now makes me not want to become a gangster or get up to no good. If your the kind of person that likes to be a bit naughty, then this film makes you feel like a naughty school child that has just been sent to the corner! The script is incredibly strong and most performances are realistic and not to melodramatic, in particular Joe O'Byrne as Tommy Morghen, Jonathan Williams as Barry Lick and Roxanne Gregory as Roxy amongst others. The locations and camera work aren't 'mega budget' but they don't have to be and shouldn't be (to an extent) as the film would lose its clout and realistic edge.

It seems a shame that such a good and honest British 'No budget' film has not yet gone mainstream, i can only hope that it soon will and audiences will be able to watch a film that could and probably will give the British film industry quite a shakeup!