Today’s quick review: Attack the Block. Moses (John Boyega) leads a gang of British teenagers (Alex Esmail, Leeon Jones, Franz Drameh, and Simon Howard) who spend their evenings robbing pedestrians and stirring up trouble. When a horde of alien beasts crashes to Earth in their neighborhood, Moses and his gang decide to take the fight to the creatures. But to protect their apartment complex, they will have to make amends with the neighbors they’ve wronged.
Attack the Block is a science fiction survival movie with comedy elements. Attack the Block savage alien monstersr against the residents of an English apartment complex. The movie features likable characters, punchy dialogue, and practical effects that are simple but effective. The plot holds few real surprises, but it moves fast and gets plenty of mileage out of its characters. The movie blends humor, action, and suspense in one tidy package.
Unlike other survival movies, Attack the Block takes care to flesh out its characters. There isn’t much in the way of backstory, but their personalities come through loud and clear. Moses and his gang skirt the line between despicable lowlifes and scrappy heroes, letting the viewer root for them while still giving them room to grow. The script’s crisp, organic dialogue helps bring the characters to life and keeps the film moving along at a rapid clip.
Watch Attack the Block when you’re in the mood for something punchy with a bit of action and a bit of comedy. Though not a masterpiece, Attack the Block is a fun watch that makes good on its premise and puts a fresh spin on the alien invasion genre. For an alien invasion movie with a similar premise and less likable characters, try Skyline or The Darkest Hour. For a British survival comedy with drier humor, check out The World’s End or Shaun of the Dead.
6.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for lively characters, a punchy presentation style, and a decent plot.