I saw this at a film festival in September 2004; at the time all I knew of it was it was billed as being a British version of DEATH WISH. One of the main draws for me was Paddy Considine, a fascinating actor who enjoyed some North American recognition via the film IN AMERICA. SHOES marked a return collaboration between Considine and director Shane Meadows. They'd partnered previously - to great effect - on A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS. The inspiration for SHOES was Meadows' own vigilante fantasies of ridding his Midlands hometown of drug-dealing scum.

After seeing the film - which I found to be quite impressive - it struck me as being less in line with DEATH WISH and much more in tone with the grim atmosphere of GET CARTER or STRAW DOGS. Considine's former commando is aware he's lost his psychological balance, yet is unwavering in his commitment to punish the unsophisticated drug dealing gang who wronged his younger brother. When Richard (Considine) first returns to town to harass the gang, it is through a series of pranks. The gang doesn't know what to think of him - and are prepared to regard him as a nutter until he suits up and takes an axe to one gang member's head. Even then, when it becomes nakedly clear Richard means to exterminate them - the gang doesn't seem bright enough to comprehend or accept what is really happening.

While there are a few spots of humour for the most part I found this to be a bleak, brutal revenge thriller. Comparisons of it falling into slasher territory don't really wash with me, as Richard is very far removed from the cinematic worlds of Jason Voorhees and Michael Meyers. Perhaps the closest tie might be that certain imagery harkens to MY BLOODY VALENTINE, but that is only a minimal element.