Attack the Block

Director Joe Cornish has put together a pretty entertaining little alien thriller with a minimal budget. Black, furry aliens with glowing blue teeth crash into a block in South London, and a group of thugs are the only true defense for humanity. Jodie Whittaker plays Sam, a woman who’s robbed by the very same thugs she will later join forces with to battle the creatures. Cornish does some interesting stuff to make the aliens work, and the young cast is fun to root for. Nick Frost of Shaun of the Dead fame makes a decent appearance as Ron, pot dealer and deliverer of dry wisecracks. This is a solid debut for Cornish, who shows true aptitude for action, comedy, and stretching his dollars a long way.