RISE OF THE FOOT SOLDIER: ORIGINS (18)
★★☆☆☆
Rise Of The Footsoldier: Origins, the fifth film in this blood-spattered series is another prequel to the 2007 dramatisation of the Rettendon murders.
It reunites us with Tony Tucker (Terry Stone) and pals Frampy (Michael Elkin), Jacko (Sam Gittins) and Pete (Jacey Elthalion) who served together in the Falklands War. After impressing the owner, they land control of the door at Hollywoods nightclub in Romford. Over in Basildon, Dave Simms (Keith Allen), owner of the struggling Raquels, hires hard man
Bernard O’Mahoney (Vinnie Jones) to root out football hooligans in his clientele led by Basildon Joe (George Russo).
Bernard convinces Tony and his crew to switch nightclubs for a cut of the profits and drug dealer Pat Tate (Craig Fairbrass) is dragged into the escalating feud between Raquels’ door staff and Basildon Joe.
Co-written by Nick Nevern and Andrew Loveday, Rise Of The Footsoldier: Origins squanders the addition of Jones, who has little to occupy his time besides a gratuitous torture scene. Pacing is inconsistent and the running time feels longer than 106 minutes. Dodgy haircuts and a 1980s-scented soundtrack turn back the clock more convincingly than the cast.
In cinemas Friday