The Fall of the Essex Boys

The premise for this movie looked pretty good to begin with. I was looking forward to watching something that is sort of based on truth, and something that is far removed from the usual American type gangster stuff we are all so used too, a movie that is based in an area I grew up in, hoping to catch an insiders glance at what else happens and has happened in the now notorious realms of Essex gangster land. However after just a few seconds into the movie it was clearly apparent that the only emotions this film was going to stir in me was utter disappointment!

Who on earth thought that a shouting over acting voice over man was a good idea? his voice is so not Essex! his constant swearing and over hyping was completely off putting. Then there's the acting itself, with most of the the actors just trying to be look as if someone just stole there lolly pop, so they decided to throw their toys out of the pram and create completely unbelievable characterless caricature of what I guess the director thought Essex people are! and no we are not a cross between Towie and Derek from Eastenders with a leaning towards mental breakdown.

The films look and feel could be rather immersive at times, the camera work lighting locations etc and the soundtrack made for a slick looking gritty Brit movie, Just to be horribly let down by a dreadful script and even worse acting, I mean who are these actors? (and I am being kind when I call them actors) The subject matter has been seen before and done better before.

If you want to see Essex in a less than flattering portrayal and your a fan of movies about football hooligans and the like, then this will be up your street, however for me this film is not only poorly made, but well out of date, this could have been made 10 to 15 years ago and perhaps been better received back then.

Sadly this movie should be avoided and lost in the bargain buckets of bankrupt video stores or a late night TV outing, not a cinema screen.

There are now three movies on the 1995 Rettendon murders, if I have counted correctly. In chronological order: Essex Boys, The Rise Of The Foot Soldier, and now The Fall Of The Essex Boys. The former is a conventional feature movie (starring Sean Bean), the latter two use a documentary-style approach with first-person narrators. The Fall Of The Essex Boys tries to be the hardest of them all, it almost feels as if the narrator is spitting into your ear ("It didn't take long for the near gear to spread frough Essex like an effing virus.") The actors are all trying a bit to hard to appear tough as nails and their overdone Cockney accents quickly begin to grate. At the same time, it does a bad job at recounting at least a semblance of a plot. All three movies revel in machism and violence. If that's your cuppa, I recommend The Rise Of The Footsoldier, to which The Fall Of The Essex Boys has nothing to add (except maybe more plump-breasted birds).

The fact that a fairly conventional triple gangland murder still spawns movies twenty years later tells you what a quiet little place Old Blighty really is.

Not one of the best adaptations of the story.

Nothing you haven't seen before in the other versions, apart from the very end (which I won't give away)and the slightly different viewpoint; it almost assumes that you've seen or read the story before and it has the familiar milestones. The acting isn't too bad, but the cutting of the scenes could have been a bit sharper, and the characters could have been introduced better. Again, if you're not familiar with the story, you'll wonder what's happening. It copies some story styles from other movies, but without the same care and finesse. All the versions I've seen and read about portray Tate as a psycho, but they all have the same few stories about him. He was obviously wild, but he doesn't seem to have been prolific in his violence, more of a show-off. It does try to be a quick fire narrative, but it comes across more as a badly edited, amateur production. Disappointing.

we have already seen a lot of films about this story (and all of then very enjoyable) but this film is spoilt but a story that feels rushed and a narration by someone who is clearly wants to be the local hard nut down his "locaaal Booooza mayte"

Who ever done the soundtrack needs to do more research as this film is based in the early 90s but features up to date house and dnb throughout - a minor point you may think but it does make a difference

putting the tedious voice over and rushed story aside the acting is pretty good and the filming is good

Skip this and watch bonded by blood or essex boys if you want a better showing of this story

I thought, Not another film about the Rettendon Murders. They say it is the best British Gangster film in years since Lock Stock. May as well watch it. Sounds great!.

What a let down. At first I wasn't sure how long I could listen to the overacted narration of Darren Nichols. Shouting the story line like he was on speed on a football terrace. Then the awful acting started.

Most of the scenes were badly cut and shot and the colour correction and lighting was all over the place. Far too many technical distractions for me to sit and enjoy. Also, what was the casting on? Pat Tate was a mountain of a guy!

Lets hope this is the last film made about the "Essex Boys" and that British gangster films see a new breed of quality actors and directors in the future.