DEAD MAN'S SHOES

Year: 2004
USA: Magnolia Films
UK: Optimum Releasing
Cast: Paddy Considine, Toby Kebbell, Gary Stretch, Stuart Wolfenden, Neil Bell, Paul Sadot, Seamus O'Neal, George Newton, Paul Hurstfield, Jo Hartley, Emily Aston, Craig Considine, Matt Considine, Andrew Shim, Arthur Meadows, Gill Meadows, Neil Dodd, Ben Dodd, Jordan Dodd, Lauren Dodd, Jenna Winter
Director: Shane Meadows
Country: UK
USA: 86 mins
UK: 90 mins
UK Certificate: 18 contains very strong language, strong violence and hard drug use
USA Release Date: 26 May 2006 (Limited Release - Los Angeles)
USA Release Date: 12 May 2006 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 1 October 2004


Synopsis

DEAD MAN'S SHOES is a genre defying film blending horror, the supernatural, comedy and social realism. It is a one off British thriller, a horror story Shane Meadows style. Starring long-time collaborator Paddy Considine (A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, THE LAST RESORT, IN AMERICA), DEAD MAN'S SHOES explores the underbelly of contemporary rural Britain. Set in a Midlands' village in a community where crime is unchecked and drugs, intimidation and power games are blandly accepted as the fabric of daily life. Written and directed by Shane Meadows, the film's writing credits are shared with Paddy Considine.

Richard (Paddy Considine) has always protected his little brother Anthony (Toby Kebbell). Richard is strong and fair, while the loving and gentle Anthony is simple minded. When Richard leaves the rural village where they have grown up to join the army, Anthony is taken in by Sonny (Gary Stretch), a controlling and vicious local drug dealer and his gang of lads. Anthony becomes the gang's pet and plaything, as they intimidate him into their sordid worldly ways. Seven years later Richard returns for revenge. One by one, he hunts down each member of the gang and executes them in increasingly elaborate ways as flashbacks reveal the extent to which his brother suffered at their hands.

DEAD MAN'S SHOES is the result of a 5 year working relationship and long term friendship between Shane Meadows (24/7, A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS) and Paddy Considine, soon to be seen alongside Russell Crowe and Renee Zellwegger in Ron Howard's CINDERELLA MAN. Working within the framework of a loose script, DEAD MAN'S SHOES developed with the actors' talent using mainly non-professional actors and naturalistic situations. Introducing Toby Kebbell, in his first feature film role, the cast is rounded out by Gary Stretch (A GOOD NIGHT TO DIE, DEAD DOGS LIE), Jo Hartley, Seamus O'Neill and Stuart Wolfenden.