Nil by Mouth

1997

Action / Drama

9
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 87% · 34 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 87% · 5K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.3/10 10 10904 10.9K

london, england heroin violent husband addiction dysfunctional family alcoholism

Plot summary

The family of Raymond, his wife Val and her brother Billy live in working-class London district. Also in their family is Val and Billy's mother Janet and grandmother Kath. Billy is a drug addict and Raymond kicks him out of the house, making him live on his own. Raymond is generally a rough and even violent person, and that leads to problems in the life of the family.

Director

Gary Oldman Photo
Gary Oldman

Top cast

Ray Winstone Photo
Ray Winstone as Raymond
Jamie Foreman Photo
Jamie Foreman as Mark
Kenan Hudaverdi Photo
Kenan Hudaverdi as Laundrette Owner
Steve Sweeney Photo
Steve Sweeney as Danny
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
1.16 GB
1194*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
2 hr 8 min
Seeds 1
2.37 GB
1792*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
2 hr 8 min
Seeds 19

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by KnightsofNi11 7 / 10

Ugly, brutal, fascinating

It's always a fun experience to watch an actors shift to the director chair. Such is the story behind Nil by Mouth, the directorial debut of Gary Oldman, one of the finest actors working today. Oldman himself does not appear in the film, but a whole collection of fantastic actors do instead. The film is a brutal story of a dysfunctional family living in London. This distraught and detached family struggles to stay together, having to battle one brothers heroin addiction, anothers short temper and violent tendencies, as well as the general debauchery that occurs within the lives of these people. This isn't a pleasant film and it isn't a happy film. It's a brutal depiction of London working-class districts and it will certainly disturb you to your core.The brutality of Nil by Mouth is unheard of. The film is a non-stop stream of cursing, graphic drug uses, and despicable violence. The film never lets up on the atrocity, leaving you no time to catch your breath. It's a fast moving film; one that doesn't stop to explain things and doesn't spell everything out for you. It's a completely character driven story with more character development in it than actual events occurring. Yet, enough happens to make the film plenty interesting. It slows down towards the middle as it sets up for its somber ending that leaves you with a strange and uneasy feeling in your stomach.Now, I'm always up for a great character driven story, but you have to be prepared for a lot going into Nil by Mouth. The thing is, the characters in this film are not likable in the least. They are the most despicable, deplorable, horridly atrocious people you've ever laid eyes on. Apart from them being sleazy and unattractive, they all possess the most unflattering personalities. The film presents a very strange family dynamic, having the characters constantly switch between love and hate for one another. Billy, the brother with the terrible heroin addiction, has his own mother give him drug money and also provides him with a place to shoot up. This seems like the most brutal form of motherly love until the two scream at each other a scene later, throwing the most horrendous profanities at one another. It is indeed some of the strangest relationships you could ever observe, teetering on being farcical at times, yet being sincerely compelling at other times.Overall, it is hard to become attached to the characters in Nil by Mouth. They certainly tell a fascinatingly twisted story, but don't expect to find any sympathy left in your heart when it's all over. This film disturbs me more than entertains me, but that is obviously the point. It is so harrowing and so horrendous that I can't guarantee you will want to watch it again once it's over. I'm not sure that I do, but I don't regret watching it by any means. Gary Oldman needs to try his luck with directing again one of these days, because his first attempt has gone pretty well.
Reviewed by Embley 7 / 10

like a punch in the stomach

this film is incredibly harsh. it took a while for me to get into it - accent barrier and a little too close to reality make it a tough one to watch. but it really is a great film - horrifying and depressing. i don't think i could ever watch it again, it is too hard.kathy burke is great as is her terrifying husband. cheers to gary oldman for doing good quality work.
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