A truly unsettling little film & a classic of modern British cinema. I call it a little film because there is nothing flashy, brash or glamorous about this, its a straight forward plot, told in a straight forward way. Toby Kebbells character Anthony aside there are no likeable characters in the film, but who says there has to be? I see many reviews on this site with people complaining 'i didn't like any of the characters or care for them' but why does this always have to be the case? There are a lot of unlikeable people out there & they are portrayed nowhere better than in Dead Mans Shoes. The performances throughout are excellent, even given most are non or part time actors. Toby Kebbell though is sublime as Anthony & the level of emotion & empathy I felt for him was heartbreaking. The film though belongs to Paddy Considines Richard. The unwavering & unflinching remorseless Considine Shows us is chilling & as scary a character i've seen on film ( & he's the 'good guy'!). The scene where the local small time dealer confronts Richard in the bar & the scene where the local kingpin confronts Richard in the street are both superb, his reaction both times chilling. Nitty, gritty, funny & scary, watch it. 10/10

Paddy Considine (who also co-wrote) stars as a former soldier out to get revenge on a group of petty thugs who victimized his mentally disabled brother. What starts out as a fairly light-hearted revenge film as Considine playfully taunts the thugs turns increasingly bleak as his violence escalates and the hopelessness of their situation becomes clear. Some fairly clever twists in the last act cast everything you've seen in a new light. Given the low budget and the working class surroundings, it ends up feeling like "Get Carter" directed by Ken Loach.

Probably the best way to recommend Dead Man's Shoes is to say that it rewards repeated viewing even after you know there's a twist in the tale. This is low-budget film-making at its best, there really isn't anything that could be improved. From the music and location to the engaging characterisation and plot, this is simply a great British film.

If you grew up on an estate like the one in the movie then you will know exactly what goes on in this movie and why. American producers would have this with Den Washington or suchlike in the lead with Russian Baddies and big sets. But only Shane Meadows could give us a movie as good as this set in a little British City.Marvellously directed and Paddy gives a mesmerising performance as a guy who knows what he has to do and the price he has to pay.What made it for me is the so -called baddies were not really that bad,,,just living in a run down area where dog eats dog..then get eaten themselvesLove the way a lot of horrible things happen during normal everyday situations ..creeps me out every time.Interesting that its about a soldier too,,did he leave the army or was he kicked out??If u think the twist in 6th sense is good then just wait till you see this little cracker..it came from nowhere. British at it's low budget best!!