Attack the Block

Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World; if you’ve seen all these films then you are most likely a fan of Edgar Wright. His latest project involves the alien invasion of a small block of apartments in South London, where a group of gang members must become unlikely heroes and save the world from the impending danger.

Featuring the directorial debut of Joe Cornish, Attack the Block is more typical of what would happen should an alien invasion actually occur. It’s not difficult to imagine a bunch of kids running to gather whatever weapons they can find to bash the little dog-like monsters to death.

That exactly what Moses (John Boyega) and his hoodlum friends do one night when they just so happen to be in the right place at the right time as the first alien ship comes to Earth. Unfortunately, they only killed what appears to be a baby. The adults have fur as black as night and a massive pair of neon glowing teeth. Killing one of these is going to require more than just a baseball bat and some bottle rockets.

Attack the Block has all the elements of a great movie; it has action, suspense, and most importantly, a great script. The dialogue between Moses and his cronies is quick and witty. There’s Pest (Alex Esmail) who, as his name describes, is more annoying then the rest but far more entertaining as well. Jerome (Leeon Jones) is the somewhat dorky nerd of the bunch although that doesn’t make him any less threatening.

There’s also the variety of apartment residents they run into including Sam (Jodie Whittaker) who finds herself siding with the same people who robbed her only moments ago, and Ron (Nick Frost), the resident drug dealer. The majority of the characters you encounter in the film are just your average everyday people who happen to be put in one crazy situation.

One problem that does arise is the strong South London accents many of the actors have. While it’s not that big of a deal, it does force you to listen intently on everything that’s being said and can be somewhat difficult to comprehend at times. Don’t let this deter you from seeing the film though, should it come to theaters, that is. While it currently has no U.S. release date, if enough people show interest in the film then it’s bound to come to theaters eventually. Believe me, this is one film you don’t want to wait to see on DVD and whatnot.

If you love the crazed over-the-top action of Hot Fuzz or the suspenseful horror/comedy of Shaun of the Dead, then Attack the Block is for you. It combines the best of both genres and will leave you wanting more. Don’t miss any opportunity to see this film if you get the chance; you’ll love every minute of it.