The Violators is a well-acted and finely tuned drama that features a great performance by Lauren McQueen and a strong, unpredictable story set in seedy urban sprawl not far from Liverpool.
About a teenage girl who discovers her abusive father is being paroled and the lengths she’ll go to to protect her family, The Violators offers a satisfying glimpse into her world and the community she lives in, the settings and folks who inhabit said settings vibrant, detailed and consistently interesting.
The story, though hardly groundbreaking, is organic and to some degree unpredictable, its focus shifting in thoughtful ways to where you’re never quite sure what the outcome will be. Unfortunately, the outcome itself is the one big letdown of the film–writer/director Helen Walsh seemingly forgot to write or film a satisfying ending–but given that here the journey is just as important, The Violators still succeeds.
The Violators isn’t the most powerful movie you’ll see all year, but it’s a worthy drama that deserves attention.
The movie screened at the 2016 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF).
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.