Wild Bill ★★★★☆

On the surface, Dexter Fletcher's directorial debut Wild Bill (2011) appears to be little more than yet another gritty independent British feature, seemingly conforming to the archetypal formula of such films to create yet another bleak piece of social commentary. However, thanks to a deeply heartfelt script and a cast which boasts a wealth of British acting talent (including Charlie Creed-Miles, Will Poulter, Andy Serkis and Jaime Winstone), Wild Bill successfully adds a fresh perspective to this overused and heavily saturated genre.

Out on parole after eight years of imprisonment, Bill (Creed-Miles) returns home to find the two sons he left behind fending for themselves after their mother carelessly abandoned them. Dean (Poulter) the eldest of the boys has found himself a construction job on the London Olympic site (despite only being 15) and has so far been the sole provider for himself and his younger brother Jimmy (Sammy Williams). Bill is reluctant to play father, with Dean equally uninterested in welcoming back his transient dad, however his release from prison has alerted social services and suddenly the threat of a life in care becomes very real to Dean and his younger brother - leading the boys into blackmailing Bill to stay and for all intensive purposes present himself as the caring father he should be.

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