Review by Prismark10

Borrowed Time is a micro budget film written and directed by Jules Bishop.

Theo Barklem-Biggs is Kevin a nerdy wimpy teenager in the London estates prone to some petty thieving. He has fallen out with his sister for stealing her clock and exchanged it at a pawnbroker for some cash. He also got into problems with a local criminal, Ninja Nigel (Warren Brown) who he owes money to due to a rigged deal.

Kevin needs money to get the clock back and sort himself out with Ninja Nigel who is getting menacing. When Kevin tries to rob curmudgeonly pensioner Philip (Phil Davis) he strikes up a reluctant and spiky friendship, especially as Philip comes after him with a blunderbuss and quoting Dirty Harry lines.

Philip is lonely living in a house full of stuffed animals and has lost friends and family due to his past alcoholism. He at least gives Kevin the courage to stand up to Ninja Nigel.

This is a gentle, gritty tragi comedy. It does misfire a bit with some of the side characters like Ninja Nigel as a supposed comedy gangster. Kevin is strangely likable when he interacts with his nephew but is always likely to make the wrong decision and Phil Davis brings out a tender side to his gnarly character. There is nothing original about this film but it is an admirable effort.