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You don’t expect soft from Maskell and you don’t get it, in Paul Andrew Williams’s queasy criminal underworld

Paul Andrew Williams’s revenge nightmare is a stomach-turningly violent gangland shocker that returns this film-maker to territory he first staked out with his 2006 feature debut, the lowlife thriller London to Brighton. There are brilliant moments here, and Bull is arguably as good as, say, Shane Meadows’s much-admired Dead Man’s Shoes, in a similarly relentless vein. But I have to admit to finding the female characters less interesting than they were in London to Brighton – and opinions might divide about the ending here, which the movie both telegraphs in advance and yet also diverts your attention away from, with a shuffling of the timeline.

Neil Maskell stars as the titular Bull, and for those of us who have enjoyed this actor’s powerfully charismatic and disturbing performances in the past,...

It’s been ten years since Bull’s (Neil Maskell) son Aiden was taken by his ex-wife (Lois Brabin-Platt’s Gemma) and father-in-law (David Hayman’s Norm). Ten years that have apparently progressed with few worries for everyone but him. Norm still runs the local crew of heavies putting the screws to businesses they need to help move their merchandise; said crew have all started families without a thought of what occurred. That Bull’s return is unexpected shouldn’t surprise, considering how long he’s been gone, but the level of terror he induces in those staring down the other end of vengeance’s knife or gun certainly is. With nothing to lose as he demands Aiden’s current whereabouts, he burns through town without remorse.

More than just a revenge film, however, writer-director Paul Andrew Williams’ Bull proves a rather effective mystery too. You may not like the...

Angela Griffin wants to return to 'Coronation Street'. The 38-year-old actress played hairdresser Fiona Middleton from 1992 to 1998 and would love to see a plot that would have all of Steve McDonald's [Simon Gregson] former love interests return to Weatherfield. Asked if she would go back to the soap, she said: ''Yeah, I think all Steve McDonald's women should come back one by one. I think Fiona would have had a baby by him so I'd come back with this 18-year-old child he'd never met.'' Angela - who has children Tallulah, 10, and Melissa, seven, with husband Jason Milligan - admitted she...

By Arlene R. Weiss

British actor, musician, Maxton Gig “Max” Beesley, Jr’s destiny as an actor was firmly set when his mom was inspired by American, Academy Award® winning actor Gig Young, in choosing her son’s middle name. Beesley, born and raised in his beloved Manchester, England, was raised in a family steeped in the arts. His father, Max Beesley, Sr. is a venerable jazz drummer and impressionist, and his mother Chris Marlowe was a jazz singer. His step-brother Jason Milligan is also an actor and Jason’s wife Angela Griffin is an actress.

At first, American audiences may not easily recognize Max Beesley’s name, but in fact, many are far more familiar with his esteemed CV of work, which includes numerous acclaimed acting roles in many stellar films, TV series, and also a supreme music career, than they realize.

Beesley has garnered considerable praise and is...