Review: This is England

Thomas Turgoose rightly won universal plaudits for his incredible performance in his acting debut as Shaun - but the praise for acting performances in This is England shouldn't stop there as the entire cast deliver wonderfully natural performances exploring ideas of community and culture in 80s Britain.

The film's main strength in the ominous and foreboding atmosphere present throughout - once Stephen Graham arrives as racist skinhead Combo the tension gradually increases till it becomes almost unbearable, building towards till the inevitable explosion of violence towards the film's end.

The only area the film falls down is thanks to Shaun's tiny frame, as the odd couple love interest subplot never convinces, as Punk girlfriend Smell towers over him, looking years older than one year age gap there's meant to be between the two.