Reputation, a small-time British crime drama directed by someone unknown, follows Wes (James Nelson-Joyce), a drug dealer questioning his life choices after his best mate Tommy (Kyle Rowe) is released from prison. Tommy, a repugnant bully, refuses to let Wes go, leading to a brawling tale about male rage and toxic masculinity.
The film features a ferocious performance from Rowe, whose anger feels horribly real, like a dysregulated little boy. The casual misogyny in Wes’s circle is hard to stomach, yet the film doesn’t explore the reasons behind the rage.
Set in a fictional northern town, the sense of place is strong, with narrow terraced houses backing onto countryside. Despite a minuscule budget, the film achieves a considerable amount, including a plotline about a customer whose 10-year-old son was murdered.
However, the film ultimately backs itself into a dead end of macho violence, building to a grandiose violent ending. This is a bit of a shame, as there are flickers of another life open to Wes.
