Review: Attack the Block (15) ***

Thus begins a barmy throwback to the ‘80s monster movies of yore. The difference is that this one is set around and within a South London tower block and the good guys are a band of street toughs, their intended victim and a fat slacker who deals in dope.

Comedian Joe Cornish (of Adam and Joe fame) pitches hoodies against hairy, scary balls of fur with luminous teeth. It’s a full-on alien invasion foiled by a bunch of lairy teens armed with baseball bats, knives and fireworks. The star turn is newcomer John Boyega as Moses, leader of the gang and a nasty thug who is redeemed by his actions over the course of the night. His victim is Huddersfield actress Jodie Whittaker who, albeit reluctantly, joins forces with the gang who targeted her in an attempt to survive the invasion. Of course Attack the Block is meant to slip into the same genre as Gremlins.

The fact that it cannot is due to the undercurrent of social realism that flows through it. Too little comedy is balanced by too little straight action. As a hybrid it trips itself up.