Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Riz Ahmed | ... | Shifty | |
Daniel Mays | ... | Chris | |
Jason Flemyng | ... | Glen | |
Nitin Ganatra | ... | Rez | |
Jay Simpson | ... | Trevor | |
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Dannielle Brent | ... | Jasmine |
Francesca Annis | ... | Valerie | |
Kate Groombridge | ... | Loretta | |
Jason Maza | ... | Malik | |
Jordan Long | ... | Lenny | |
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Rory Jennings | ... | Otis |
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Courtney Day | ... | Otis' Girlfriend |
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Gracie Fitch | ... | Katie Palmer |
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Nathaniel Gleed | ... | Freddie Palmer |
Eddie Webber | ... | Bob Moran |
Shifty, a young crack cocaine dealer in London, sees his life quickly spiral out of control when his best friend returns home. Stalked by a customer desperate to score at all costs, and with his family about to turn their back on him for good, Shifty must out-run and out-smart a rival drug dealer intent on setting him up for a big fall. As his long time friend Chris confronts the dark past he left behind him, Shifty is forced to face up to the violent future he's hurtling towards.
Shifty is a slow-burner that feels more like a play than an actual feature film. Made on a minute budge of £100,000, the film tells the story of Chris (Daniel Mays), a 20-something yr old who has returned to his old manor to see school mate ''Shifty'' (Riz Ahmed). Chris is now an adult with a responsible job, whereas Shifty has become a drug dealer, and still resents Chris for leaving the area in the first place. This film is remarkable for the chemistry formed between the two central characters, and the slow pace of the film adds a constant tension to proceedings, we know something ''shifty'' will happen, but where and when is anybody's guess. A brilliant and sophisticated drama, this added depth to the ''urban'' genre, also shout out to Masood from Eastenders, who gives an amazing performance in this as Shifty's older brother.