Film Review : Free Fire (15)

Set in 1970’s Boston, Free Fire is an action comedy film about an arms deal that goes wrong leading to a shoot out between the gang of arms dealers and those buying the guns.

Released : Friday 31st March 2017
Rated : 15
Running Time : 91 minutes
BBFCinsight : Strong violence, language, drug misuse
Director : Ben Wheatley
Cast Includes : Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor, Michael Smiley, Sam Riley, Noah Taylor

An arms deal has been arranged by Justine (Brie Larson) between two Irishmen (Cillian Murphy, Michael Smiley) and a gang or arms dealers led by Vernon (Sharlto Copley) and Ord (Armie Hammer).

The deal takes place in a deserted warehouse but the deal goes horrible wrong, not only are the guns not what was ordered but personal differences between members of the two sides results in a full blown shoot out.

Soon the weapons are forgotten and the attention turns to the case of money that was to be used to buy the guns. It soon becomes clear there is more to the deal that meets the eye and perhaps it was a set up all along so one of those present could take the money and run – but who will escape with the case of cash?

Review

When I first started watching this film I wasn’t sure if this was an action film, a comedy film or a horror film. Then I realised it’s all three!

The film combines fast moving action with hilarious jokes and comments as well a gory horror scenes as those involved slowly meet their demise. Keep a close watch for the way in which the van is used as a prop in the film, especially near the end as one of the arms dealers drives the van around the warehouse (accompanied by a John Denver song playing on the cassette player in the van) as they try to escape.

All the action takes place in one location, a large deserted warehouse, but clever directing and a brilliant script keeps the interest of the viewer. Clever use of items in the warehouse such as a telephone, the fire alarm and the van in which the arms dealers arrived also helps to keep the story flowing.

There is a genre of horror movie where everyone in the film is killed off leaving just one person left alive and Free Fire takes that concept and moves it to the next level as the members of the gangs start fighting between themselves over who will be the one to escape with the case containing the case.

This is an excellent moving and most definitely worth watching, but be ready for laughing at some hilarious jokes one minute and seconds later reeling back at the sight of gory scenes more akin to a horror movie.