Shifty (2008)

96% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(635 ratings)

Inspired by writer/director Eran Creevy's own teenage experiences, Shifty tells the tale of a man who returns to his old neighborhood on the outskirts of London, ostensibly to attend a party but more specifically to check up on an old friend. It's been a long time since Chris (Daniel Mays) left… More Inspired by writer/director Eran Creevy's own teenage experiences, Shifty tells the tale of a man who returns to his old neighborhood on the outskirts of London, ostensibly to attend a party but more specifically to check up on an old friend. It's been a long time since Chris (Daniel Mays) left town, and now that he's finally returned, he's eager to check up on Shifty (Riz Ahmed), the lifelong friend he left behind. As it turns out, things aren't going to well for Shifty; not only has he taken to dealing drugs supplied by local heavy Glen (Jason Flemyng), but the constant struggle to keep his activates secret from his self-righteous brother Rez (Nitin Ganatra) has resulted in some serious family tensions. Over the course of the next twenty-four hours, former best friends Chris and Shifty will not only confront the dark secrets that once drove Chris from town, but also work to free the desperate Shifty from a volatile situation that could spell danger for both of them. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Eran Creevy
Written By: Eran Creevy
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Oct 24, 2008 Wide
On DVD: Aug 24, 2009
Studio: BBC Films

Critic Reviews

Cosmo Landesman, Sunday Times (UK)
The dialogue is a nice mix of Pinteresque menace, drug lingo, laddism and cracking one-liners.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
The film has a sense of authenticity and there's no sentimental suggestion that Shifty's way of life is the inevitable result of his background.
Neil Smith, Heat Magazine
Moving, gripping and funny, this is a homegrown gem you can't help taking to your heart.
Tim Evans, Sky Movies
For a debut feature, Eran Creevy's semi-autobiographical drama shows a remarkably light touch, set in an anonymous London suburbia far removed from stereotypical East End of the wideboy film tradition.
Ellen E Jones, Total Film
Mercifully free of Danny Dyer cameos or Guy Ritchie mockneyisms, this works as both an entertaining gangster thriller and a hard-hitting piece of social realism. Absorbing, moving and authentic, Shifty never once strikes a false note.
Ali Catterall, Film4
Creevy eschews the woozy, arthouse ambience of Duane Hopkins' Better Things - another portrait of a drug-decimated community - for naturalistic dialogue and performances within carefully framed and composed shots; properly cinematic, grown-up direction.
Dan Jolin, Empire Magazine
Good central performances in this highly, entertaining character-driven debut.
Wally Hammond, Time Out
Creevy's fine ear for dialogue, sensitive and productive direction of actors and confident control of tone is all the more impressive for being delivered under the short schedule and tight budgetary exigencies.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
The production values are lo-fi but spirited performances, matey humour and an edgy authenticity carry the story.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
First-time director Eran Creevy kicks things up a notch with this shrewd and engaging drama, achieved on the smallest of budgets.
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
Written and directed by first-timer Eran Creevy, this quiet piece is mostly convincing in its mundane details, and doesn't feel the need to ramp up its plot too precipitately into guns and threats and spiralling vendetta.
Anton Bitel, Little White Lies
Shifty boasts convincing performances, even-handed characterisation, creeping suspense and energy to burn.
Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail [UK]
As art, Shifty is unoriginal and tedious. I find it difficult to imagine who would pay to see this for entertainment.
David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]
It doesn't hit home quite like it should, but director Eran Creevy deserves credit for delivering something better than the usual Brit gruel.
, Sun Online
First-time writer and director Eran Creevy delivers a film full of uneasy silences, punctuated by laddish banter and just enough action to keep you gripped.
Karl French, Financial Times
It is all done with conviction, is well acted, particularly by the two leads, and is a brisk, promising debut for Creevy.
Anthony Quinn, Independent
Drug crime on the outskirts of London sounds neither promising nor original, but Eran Creevy's debut feature is more character study than the usual Britcrim parade of guns and geezers.
Allan Hunter, Daily Express
The story may not be entirely unfamiliar but writer/director Eran Creevy transforms autobiographical material into an engaging, energetic little drama that is full of promise.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
Couched in a kind of Pinteresque slum language that needs a glossary to be totally intelligible, the film boasts an authenticity and wholly natural performances, particularly from Mays, and is devoid of the usual clichés of its genre.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

Not so much a story in a traditional sense, more of a ?day in the life of? type of tale and in this case it?s through a drug dealer?s eyes. Whilst this is true in terms of storyline build up, perhaps the true meaning of the film is about relationships of all kind, family,… More
Not so much a story in a traditional sense, more of a ?day in the life of? type of tale and in this case it?s through a drug dealer?s eyes. Whilst this is true in terms of storyline build up, perhaps the true meaning of the film is about relationships of all kind, family, friendships, the loyalties that come from them, right to the non-stereotypical drug users and their relationship with drugs. Well acted, very realistic, but as a result suffers a slightly slow paced urban thriller. Regardless, it?s a worthy British Drama and well made for what appears to be a very low budget film. A particularly good performance from Riz Ahmed.
Gordon A

Effective calling card for a new talent in director Creevy, his personal experiences lend authenticity to the script, and a smart sense of humour stops this descending into grim geezerdom.
Hassan V

Firstly, the film looks fantastic for the budget it was made on. But innovative and quality film production does not make a great film in itself. Shifty has some fascinating aspects but it in the end is another average London drug street film. However Riz Ahmed's performance is… More
Firstly, the film looks fantastic for the budget it was made on. But innovative and quality film production does not make a great film in itself. Shifty has some fascinating aspects but it in the end is another average London drug street film. However Riz Ahmed's performance is top; he is charismatic and likeable even though his character is a bit of a selfish so and so. This performance and its macro budget ingenuity just edges it past being bog standard average
Lesley N

A day in the life of a Muslim drug dealer in an unnamed London suburb, as Shifty bickers with his mate and brother, crosses swords with his supplier and services his customers. Pretty lively, and there's an air of authenticity to some of the set pieces, but not great...but then… More
A day in the life of a Muslim drug dealer in an unnamed London suburb, as Shifty bickers with his mate and brother, crosses swords with his supplier and services his customers. Pretty lively, and there's an air of authenticity to some of the set pieces, but not great...but then again not bad either for a film made in 18 days for £100K and under 90 minutes..
ernest e

Very predictable script. Every other word is fuck or fucking, it gets boring.