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Sket

Reviews

A well-meaning study of girl gang violence that never pushes the envelope.

Posted 31st October 2011, 11:47am in Film, by Becky Reed


Released in cinemas 28th October 2011.

Despite its provocative title (another derogatory title for young women, in the vein of "slag"), Sket turns out to be a well-meaning drama featuring decent performances from its talented young cast.

Newcomer Aimee Kelly plays Kayla, a 16-year-old Geordie who runs away from home to live with her big sister in London. Struggling to fit in on the run-down estate, she is enthralled by the girl gang who stick up for her when she's harrassed on a double decker.

When Kayla's sister is brutally murdered by sadistic, misogynistic gang leader Trey (a powerful Ashley Walters), Kayla clings to her new friends for both the security and strength in numbers for revenge. Scottish actress Emma Hartley-Miller is outstanding as the gang's top dog Danielle, with her character a layered mix of aggression, pain and sympathy. Writer and director Nirpal Bhogal doesn't flesh out the supporting characters as successfully, causing Lily Loveless, Adelayo Adedayo and Varada Sethu to come across as mere fresh-faced accessories.

With Bhogal examining the reasons young women get involved in gang violence, he also explores the modern version of the gangster's moll. Riann Steele is thrilling to watch as Trey's girlfriend, although why such a sensitive and astute woman would remain with a man who can beat a defenceless woman to death is never really examined.

Thankfully, Sket doesn't sensationalise gang violence at all, with the necessary scenes of brutality discreetly shot, and always shown with consequences. For all its good intentions, Bhogal's script never really pushes the envelope, with a slight storyline and Danielle the only character with a satisfying arc. However, it's a finely shot film, with terrific use of London's strikingly ugly and intimidating Alexandra Road Estate, and must be applauded for its non-exploitative approach (despite what the cynical posters imply).

Rating: 6/10

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