“Pusher” is a shot of adrenalin straight to the veins. An English language remake of the 1996 Danish cult classic, the film centers on drug dealer Frank (Richard Coyle) during one crazy, hellish week of deals gone sour, nights spent in jail, and shoot–outs with murderous suppliers.
If all that sounds a bit pulpy and predictable—it is, mostly. What sets this film apart is its lean, streamlined plot—the runtime is under 90 minutes—that takes the audience right to the meat of the story. From the opening scene, in which Frank and his best buddy discuss the means of transport for half a gear of their dope (“Inside her? That’s not physically possible, mate.”), we are plunged into the high–risk, freewheeling world of these characters.
Director Luis Prieto emphasizes this grit with a sticky, frenetic style of shooting reminiscent of Nirvana music videos. He puts us inside the high, right next to Frank’s actions—which means gore, and lots of it. The camera rarely backs away from the blows and blood splatter, and repeated threats of ripping out kneecaps might leave audiences uncomfortably clutching their legs.
Prieto counteracts the bloodshed with a dose of glamour and beauty in the form of Flo, Frank’s girlfriend, played by former model Agyness Deyn. While her delivery is at times a bit stilted and flat—not helped by her impenetrable accent—Deyn has screen presence and is very watchable as the enigmatic damsel–in–distress. A stripper with a heart of—well, as it turns out, some murky secrets of her own.
Flo spends much of the film accompanying Frank to hip clubs and parties, shimmying the night away in glitzy attire. Here, Prieto finds room for levity and luxury, reveling in the flashing lights, neon dance floors and decadent behavior. He marries these scenes and the film’s darker tones with consistent stuttering, ominous beats provided by British electronic band Orbital, whose score lends the film a sense of urgency and modernity.
The true heart of “Pusher” lies in Richard Coyle’s gruff performance, which contains enough manly magnetism to keep audiences hooked for the whole ride. His portrayal of Frank’s moral complexities—involving his own Lady Macbeth moment with a sink and some blood stains— elevates the film from standard guys–with–guns romp to art house gem.
“Pusher” is currently available on VOD.
Directed by Luis Prieto
Starring Richard Coyle, Agyness Deyn, Bronson Webb, Zlatko Buric
3/5 stars
