Breakdown [DVD]

This debut feature by writer – director Jonnie Malalchi certainly delivers on all fronts, injecting a new thrilling dynamic and insightful attention to detail that sets it apart from other British films of this genre. Layered with exploration into the psychology of a hired killer, coupled with superb performances all round, wonderful locations, and stylistically shot, BREAKDOWN without doubt sets the precedence for future indie British crime films. BREAKDOWN has substance in abundance and a real point of difference from your usual British crime film. Be sure to see it – you certainly won't be disappointed. Very convincing was Mem Ferda's performance, being tortured. I genuinely felt sorry for the guy.If you like this Genre and like Craig Fairbrass, you won't be disappointed with this film.

This is a gritty British action-thriller flick with Craig Fairbrass and James Cosmo in the lead roles. The stunning Olivia Grant plays Alfie's wife.Briefly, Alfie Jennings (Fairbrass) is an ex-soldier who is now an incumbent part of a ruthless and close-knit 'homefront' hitman team that carries out brutal tortures and assassinations for various international clients who want rid of their competition etc. The story unfolds as Alfie has a PTSD-type flashbacks of his previous past and violent hits he's carried out. He sees flashing visions of past kills. He doesn't know what is real and what isn't. He's cracking up, and he knows it. His sense of unreality and panic and trying to figure it all out are shown in graphic detail. But he still has to work, and his illness is getting in the way of his job. In the end he knows he has to leave the hit-squad and look after his real family - his wife and daughter. But suffice to say, it's not that easy just to go his own way, as the Colonel won't let him leave the hit-squad, as so a stand-off develops...You'd expect to see Alfie seeing a psychiatrist or someone medical... at some stage but he doesn't. He's a staunch ex-solider who took an oath, he's tougher than the past, he's not allowed to live in, or re-live it, it is him, and he has to fight on... regardless. But he botches a job up when he slashes himself instead of finishing off another victim, who then laughs in his face - in front of the Colonel. He has one last chance to get it right... he finishes that job, but is still getting flashbacks that are wearing him down mentally. He keeps losing it... but not completely... Alfie lives in a very nice house, not what you'd expect, for an ex-squaddie - but he made his money from being a hit- man... he loves his wife and daughter - more than his job - and he wants to protect them... In the end they are forced to protect themselves - when things turn really nasty....There is a lot of killing and gory scenes in this movie, and lots of swearing too... but what makes this movie work, more interesting and less formulaic is that Alfie - is not an alcoholic, or wife beating, low life, type - he breaks the mold of a stereotypical, disheveled ex-soldier with looming PTSD...he's a proper family man at heart - just caught up in a murky business - he's desperate to break free from. We don't get to see a full nervous breakdown however, he does manage to pull himself together in the end, but the movie conveys his sense of panic that he's losing his mind very well...It seems strange that anyone would live with a man like Alfie. A trained killer and hit man, who could get shot himself at any point... why isn't this man just a loner, then no one else has to be involved or get hurt along the way... what right does a man like Alfie have to bring his family into such a violent world of crime? This moral issue is never discussed in the movie, but we see the power of love, when one of Alfie's mates declares undying love for her and wants to start a life with her - but she point blank refuses...she's committed to him, as he is to her... we see that struggle for normality throughout the whole course of this movie...But just to be pedantic and knit-pick you could argue, the front cover doesn't tell the real story, this was too slow in places, not enough pace or bigger action scenes... no car chases, no chases through the woods or casinos or night clubs etc. and no real hard-man fight scenes falling through windows and rolling around etc - till the end... the music was a bit lame too. But we can see past all that, for the other bits of the movie, didn't make up for it per se, but it still holds it's own, and in an overall sense this is worth seeing and I enjoyed watching it.

Ooof! This one's a real blinder, guv! Our pal, Sir Craig of the Fairbrass is at it again with another direct to video winner which delivers both on action and (gasp!) emotion in a down 'n dirty head smasher that manages to be both engaging and well made thanks to expert direction and a more than game cast.When ex-soldier and current hitman for hire Alfie Jennings (Craig Fairbrass) starts getting all touch feely with his inner self and begins experiencing 'visions' of the poor fellas he's offed, his stock-in hardman demeanour starts to unravel. Unable to shake the mounting panic attacks, he soon finds himself putting down the pliers and wanting to be all doting dad-like with his hotcha wife Catherine (Olivia Grant) and their beloved daughter Maya (Amanda Wass) - problem is, rent-a-crime boss Albert (James Cosmo) doesn't take kindly seeing his best gunslinger wanting to hang up his glock and instead unleashes a battalion of hitman (well, three) after Alfie in an effort to convince our jaded hero the error of his ways or end those nervous breakdown issues... for good.Although written in a very A to B fashion, I still had a good time with this low budget yet ambitious actioner. Director Jonnie Malachi has a fine visual style that elevates the material with confidence and tight as a drum editing - he’s certainly one to watch. Lead Fairbrass may do this hardman schtick in his sleep, but gotta admit he’s a genuine power onscreen - almost in every frame and commanding each scene he appears, ‘ol Craig is a genuine old skool action star. I get its hardly a stretch for him, but he balances both the heroic and the damaged with equal aplomb and gave me new appreciation for his talents as a seasoned leading man. The only issue is the more the running time unfolds, the more the screenplay becomes preposterous and almost hurts the preceding 50 or so minutes - but this is hardly Merchant Ivory so its a minor quibble - if you’re looking for nothing more than gangster action with a funky twist, ‘Breakdown’ will certainly do the trick.Amazon Prime’s presentation of the movie is sharp with a vibrant transfer accompanied by excellent audio. All in all, I gotta recommend this one as it certainly brightened up my evening. Give it a whirl, but don’t go expecting nothing more than what it is: A well made but low budget actioner.

I wouldn’t take much notice of negative reviews I thought this film was brilliant well made a bit slow to start with but I really enjoyed it would love to see what happens next if there was a second movie fairbrass movies are normally really good give it a go judge for your self

Craig Fairbrass struggles to act, what a waste of time yet again....................

This isn't convincing from the start, the fact that it's British has something to do with it, but the ending isn't just far-fetched, it's ridiculous. One torture scene isn't bad, but then we get another scene where a professional hit man decides to put his gun down and have a fist-fight with his victim. Which he loses. It's that kind of film.

this is craig fairbrass at his best. A thoroughly brilliant movie