The Knife That Killed Me (film)

{{Short description|2014 British drama film}}

{{Infobox film

| name = The Knife That Killed Me

| image =

| alt =

| caption = Promotional poster

| director = Kit Monkman
Marcus Romer

| producer = Thomas Mattinson
Alan Latham

| screenplay = Marcus Romer
Kit Monkman

| based_on = {{Based on|The Knife That Killed Me|Anthony McGowan}}

| starring = Jack McMullen
Reece Dinsdale
Haruka Abe
Andrew Dunn
Oliver Lee
Charles Mnene
Josh Brown
Thomas Teago
Rosie Goddard
Andrew Ellis
Alfie Stewart
Reece Douglas
Richard Crehan

| distributor = Universal Pictures (UK)
Focus Features (US)

| released = {{Film date|2014|10|24|df=yes}}

| runtime = 95 minutes

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| budget = £3 million

}}

The Knife That Killed Me is a 2014 British drama film that was funded as a Kickstarter project. The story about a teenage boy who becomes involved in knife crime was adapted from the novel by Anthony McGowan.{{cite web |url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/feature-adaptation-of-the-knife-that-killed-me-underway/5040474.article |title=Feature Adaptation of 'The Knife That Killed Me' Underway |accessdate=2012-04-13 }} It was filmed in York, North Yorkshire in a purpose-built green screen stage at GSP Studios (at the former ARTTS International film school) at Bubwith,{{cite web |url=http://www.oneandother.com/articles/universal-pictures-film-to-be-produced-in-york/ |title=Universal Pictures Film to be Produced in York |accessdate=2012-02-04 }} entirely on green screens. Production began in mid-February 2012 and filming began in mid-April.{{cite web |url=http://www.oneandother.com/articles/filming-starts-on-the-knife-that-killed-me/ |title=Filming starts on The Knife That Killed Me |accessdate=2012-04-18 }} The film was released on 24 October 2014.

A casting call for the role of Paul was posted on 26 October 2011{{cite web |url=http://screenterrier.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/feature-film-casting-call.html |title=Feature film casting call |accessdate=2011-10-26 }} and another for 'Yorkshire-based teenagers' was posted on 9 January 2012;{{cite web |url=http://screenterrier.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/feature-film-casting-call-for-yorkshire.html |title=Feature film casting call for Yorkshire-based teenagers |accessdate=2012-01-09 }} the latter also states that Jeremy Zimmerman was the casting director.

Cast

  • Jack McMullen as Paul Varderman, the protagonist of the film and from whose memories it is created
  • Reece Dinsdale as Paul's Dad
  • Haruka Abe as Serena
  • Andrew Ellis as Bates
  • Richard Crehan as Kirk
  • Alfie Stewart as Stevie
  • Rosie Goddard as Maddy
  • Grace Meurisse Francis as Freak
  • Andrew Dunn as Mr Boyle
  • Katherine Dow Blyton as Mrs Botharm
  • Jamie Shelton as Roth, Paul's friend, the school bully, and the catalyst for conflict{{cite web |url=http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/books/28983 |title=The Knife That Killed Me |date=2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307111715/http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/view/28983/ |archive-date=2016-03-07 }}
  • Reece Douglas as Mickey
  • Thomas Teago as Compson and Goddo Gang Member
  • Carl Anscombe as Goddo Gang Member
  • Oliver Lee as Shane
  • Sarah Baxendale as Shane's Mum
  • Natalie Gavin as Marlene
  • Charles Mnene as Goddo
  • Josh Brown as Billy
  • Josh Benson as Kevin
  • Andrina Carroll as Mrs Eel
  • Kerron Darby as Miller
  • Sarah Poyzer as Paul's Mum
  • Millie Romer as Kirsty
  • Tom Collins as Tariq
  • Coco Hoyle-Ansett
  • Lewis Greenwood as Freak

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Tom Adams {{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2087982/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast|title = The Knife That Killed Me (2014) - IMDb|website = IMDb}}

Reception

The film received mixed reviews. Wendy Ide of The Times described it as "an experimental British drama... with a densely intensive visual verve."{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/reviews/article4245577.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025013308/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film/reviews/article4245577.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 25, 2014|title=The Knife That Killed Me|last=Ide|first=Wendy|date=October 24, 2014|work=The Times|pages=Film Reviews|accessdate=12 November 2014}} Leslie Felperin of The Guardian praised the film's stylized look {{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/23/the-knife-that-killed-me-review-kickstarter-school-drama|title=The Knife That Killed Me review – earnest, anti-violence school drama|last=Felperin|first=Leslie|date=23 October 2014|work=The Guardian|accessdate=12 November 2014}}

The film will also experience its Italian debut in the specialist youth selection of the Rome Film Festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.romacinemafest.it/ecm/web/fcr/en/home/specials/independent-and-parallel-sidebars-alice-nella-citta |title=International Rome Film Festival - INDEPENDENT AND PARALLEL SIDEBARS: Alice nella città |website=www.romacinemafest.it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708200752/http://www.romacinemafest.it/ecm/web/fcr/en/home/specials/independent-and-parallel-sidebars-alice-nella-citta |archive-date=2012-07-08}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}